Browns linebacker Scott Fujita was suspended for three games by the NFL as a result of their bounty program investigation.
Fujita reportedly plans to appeal and there’s talk of further legal actions, so the Browns might not know whether or not they’ll have him in the lineup for a while yet. Coach Pat Shurmur released a brief statement on Wednesday about the suspensions.
“We will respect the Commissioner’s decision,” Shurmur said, via the Akron Beacon-Journal. “Scott is a valued member of the Cleveland Browns, and we look forward to his participation in our offseason program and training camp.”
The Browns got some experience playing without Fujita last season when a broken hand cost him the last five games. The Browns went with Chris Gocong, Kaluka Maiava and D’Qwell Jackson as their starting linebackers in Fujita’s absence. They could do the same thing this season, although they did draft James-Michael Johnson and Emmanuel Acho in the fourth and sixth-rounds, respectively.