Getty ImagesFriday’s ruling by an appeals panel overturning the suspensions of the four players suspended as part of the Saints bounty probe means many things, but, most immediately, it means the four players are eligible to play this weekend.
Anthony Hargrove doesn’t have a team at the moment and Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma is recovering from knee problems, so we don’t anticipate seeing either one of them on the field. Saints defensive end Will Smith is expected to play against the Redskins and Browns linebacker Scott Fujita is now eligible to play as well after the Browns put him back on the active roster Friday.
Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal reports that a Browns spokesman announced that the team received a roster exemption for Fujita. That allows the Browns to carry 54 men, so no one had to get cut right now to make room for Fujita. Long before Friday’s decision, Fujita insisted that he would play against the Eagles and it sounds like that would be fine with coach Pat Shurmur even though Fujita didn’t practice at all this week.
“We’ve got up until right before game time to put the roster together, but I don’t see any reason why he can’t play,” Shurmur said.
The only big reason disappeared on Friday so there’s a good chance we’ll see Fujita on Sunday.
Channel Finder
If Roger would stick to his decisions this wouldn’t be happening.
The Saints put Fujita back on the active roster? How do the Browns feel about that?
Well consider the team saved then…
Word of advice to Scott Fujita: Don’t go back and sue the NFL if you wind up getting hurt from an opposing player performing a bounty on you. After all, it’s all a part of the game, right?
Great for browns fans ,cuz ur going to need it come Sunday ….
Remember golden Kool Aid drinkers, the suspensions were lifted on a “jurisdictional” basis. There was no finding of innocence. Hate away, but those are the facts.
The browns will still go 4-12 and miss out on Barkley.
Fajita returning will close the score against Philly to a 38-9 loss.
He’ll always be known as Scott Fucheata even if he does get off on a technicality
So now the browns will only lose to Philly by 31.
Fujita always has been against Goodell about player safety. He has consistently been very vocal about Goodell’s disregard for players with the extension to 18 games, concussion awareness, etc…
In the appeals he was charged with putting money in a general pool that rewarded for big plays, though it was also made clear other players allegedly put in more money than him and were not suspended at all.
It definitely makes me wonder what reason they had to single him out as a major contributor to a pfp pool when, according to their “ledger”, others put in more money.
Anyone want to tell me there wasn’t anything strange about the suspensions?
This game is gonna be close… Just watch.
Fujita is still being punished…he’s playing for the Clowns.
What a shame they let them back, after trying to intentionally hurt people. I guess if OJ could get away with it, why not the Saints.
cmdrsmooth says: Sep 7, 2012 8:44 PM
What a shame they let them back, after trying to intentionally hurt people. I guess if OJ could get away with it, why not the Saints.
======================================first not a Browns fan but had comment that OJ didnt try to hurt anyone… he murdered someone. if you are trying to make a point… poor choice.
Browns are doomed either way
Good luck on suing the NFL for brain injuries.
As if I needed further proof that my Brownies are far from being good. Dude proved to be too old and slow LAST season. Non-factor . . .
Scotty Burritto is a lame linebacker with a big mouth.
This is a game changer for my Browns.
Now they will only lose by 17.
chicken fujita is back? and this is great news for the Browns? he will make a difference? no. he won’t. best on Brown’s. backup everywhere else
In Cleveland baby! Gonna watch the Factory of Sadness in all its glory. FLY EAGLES, FLY!!!!!