Scott Fujita Calls Out NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

Scott Fujita is calling out NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s handling of the New Orleans Saints’ bounty scandal, saying that Goodell misused his power.

Fujita, who was suspended three games for his part in a scheme to injure players for bonus cash but later reduced to one game after it was discovered he was not directly involved, said he plans to vigorously defend his name, The Associated Press reported.

“The commissioner says he is disappointed in me,” Fujita said. “The truth is, I’m disappointed in him.”

Scott Fujita called out Goodell in a strongly worded statement put out after the commissioner upheld a suspension for the Cleveland Browns linebacker. He said that the commissioner had abused his power and also expressed displeasure with how his suspension was lessened.

Goodell also had strong words for Scott Fujita, saying that the linebacker left Goodell feeling “surprised and disappointed by the fact that you, a former defensive captain and a passionate advocate for player safety, ignored such a program and permitted it to continue. … . If you had spoken up, perhaps other players would have refused to participate and the consequences with which we are now dealing could have been avoided.”

Scott Fujita didn’t take kindly to what he saw as a “condescending tone” in Goodell’s letter.

“For him to come out and say he was disappointed in me for not standing up to my coach,” Scott Fujita said after practice Wednesday. “I haven’t had someone tell me they were disappointed in me since I was 12 years old, and that was my father.”

Scott Fujita saw his suspension taken down from three games to one as Goodell exonerated him from involvement in the bounty program, but said he could have done more to stop it. Fujita said he plans to keep up his fight to clear his name.

Sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that Fujita gave Goodell signed declarations from close to 20 players to before the commissioner reissued the penalties, all verifying that Fujita had nothing to do with the bounty system.

“This is how I feel about things,” Scott Fujita said. “I’ve been very clear about it since back in March, so I don’t think it could get any worse.”