DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Fujita embraces Browns turnaround mission

Nice article

http://www.cantonrep.com/browns/x1224403269/Fujita-embraces-Browns-turnaround-mission

Fujita embraces Browns' turnaround mission

By Brett Martel
The Associated Press
Posted Mar 09, 2010 @ 08:09 PM
Scott Fujita knows all about what’s possible in the NFL.

In 2006, against the advice of friends and loved ones, he chose to join a New Orleans Saints team coming off a 3-13 campaign and playing home games in a disaster-stricken city under a rookie coach.

Four years later, Fujita was starring in a commemorative video released this week chronicling the Saints’ uplifting run to the first championship in the franchise’s 43-year history.

“I’ve always enjoyed the process of trying to turn teams around,” Fujita said by phone from his offseason home near Monterey, Calif. “We did that in New Orleans and I’m so excited about the opportunity to try to do that again.”

On Sunday, Fujita agreed to a three-year, $14 million free-agent contract with the Cleveland Browns, with $8 million guaranteed.

Fujita, who’ll be 31 next season, said he wasn’t looking to leave New Orleans, a city for which he’s repeatedly professed his affection.

Rather, he was courted by the Browns, who offered a generous contract, a more central role in their defense than he had in New Orleans — and the chance to be part of another uplifting story in a place that could use more of them.

“It’s obviously tough leaving because everyone knows how much we love New Orleans. ... My affection for the city will never change,” Fujita said. “Realistically, making this decision wasn’t all that difficult because the Saints made the decision easy for me. They didn’t put forth too much effort and I understand that completely.

“They have a lot of young guys now that they need to start paying some money to and that’s just part of the business,” he continued. “The Browns had a demand and I think they see a good role for me to come in and help turn that team around.”

For Fujita, New Orleans’ recovery from Hurricane Katrina was something to experience rather than avoid. Even as he returns to grab some things from his residence in New Orleans’ warehouse district in the next few weeks, he’ll be continuing his community service efforts on behalf of the city. Fujita said he’ll be donating half of his $83,000 player’s share from the Super Bowl to two charities, one in Haiti and one in Louisiana that is dedicated to coastal restoration.

He also plans to appear in public service announcements promoting coastal restoration efforts, which are critical to south Louisiana’s defense against tidal surges caused by hurricanes.

“We love New Orleans whether we were going to be there or not, so we wanted to help any way we can to protect the city,” Fujita said. “We plan on keeping a home there, and when I’m there, I’m there to serve.”

Cleveland fans can look forward to Fujita taking a similar approach in their city.

Fujita is well aware of the economic hardship that has hit Cleveland and double-digit unemployment rates across much of Ohio.

“I do know the city to a certain extent is suffering right now,” Fujita said. “Unemployment is really high and I know they’re craving to have football be big again. You always hear about Cleveland fans. It’s a storied franchise, a lot of championships back in the day. And they want great football again.”

In some ways, Fujita is coming into a situation in Cleveland that was more promising than the one he first joined in New Orleans. Although the Browns went 5-11 last season, they appeared to be moving in the right direction when they closed the season with four straight wins. When Mike Holmgren was hired as team president, he saw enough evidence of improvement to retain head coach Eric Mangini.

Fujita also has a history with Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who was a linebackers coach with the Patriots when Fujita entered the league in 2002. Fujita expected to be drafted by the Patriots, but Kansas City took him in the fifth round. While with Oakland in 2006, Ryan made another push for Fujita, who chose New Orleans instead.

“Now it’s a chance for me to go and work with (Ryan), a guy I’ve respected for a long time,” Fujita said.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees said Fujita will be missed in New Orleans, where he was considered “a great leader, a great locker room guy.”

“When we talk about our core guys, it was the guys there from that 2006 team,” Brees said.

Fujita will miss out on the Saints’ quest to repeat as champions. Instead, barring an unforeseen setback, he’ll be lining up against Brees in the Louisiana Superdome when the Browns visit the Saints next season.

“To not be a part of that repeat challenge, am I saddened by it? I kind of expected to be there and be able to help with that,” Fujita said. “But now I’m on to the same mission, which is to win a championship and try to bring that to Cleveland.”

On paper, it appears this kid is gonna bring a lot to the Browns.

Watching NO, I thought he looked small. But I think he will immediately be the best coverage LB of the group.

I dunno, his bio says 6'5 250 pounds. What more can we expect?

http://www.nfl.com/players/scottfujita/profile?id=FUJ296636

I wouldn't be suprised if we traded DQ this offseason, that is unless we see eye to eye on a long term contract. A 2nd next year or a 3rd this year could possibly get him. We might even have a biter for that 2nd round RFA tender eventually.

Or, DQ steps up his game as a result of having to play aside a proven talent and we end up with two solid ILB'ers,....

j/c

He is a lunch pail type guy who is wide open 100% of the time. He will stroke you and be in the right place all the time.

A solid leader.

I love this signing.

Deep,i am with you on that!I love this signing as well,seems like a team player and someone who could help change the culture of the team.We need more of these guys around to be honest.This team is missing passion for the game outside of JT,Hank had it too but,he is now gone so,there that go.

good read. its nice to have players who are good dudes off the field. not that a chunk of the browns aren't good dudes but its seems like you will hear about jerks like roethlisberger or somebody similar to him.

I am all about the people side of the Drowns, the community stuff, the extra beyond the Game. TThis is such a class act guy, and I am tickled he is here. Because he is bringing a good skull to the table. Might be stronger up the middle, D'Q will need to read better, and wow, it is exciting. No head issues here!

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/03/former_new_orleans_saints_line_2.html

Former New Orleans Saints linebacker Scott Fujita goes into detail about move to Cleveland Browns

By Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune
March 10, 2010, 1:55PM

We concentrated mostly on the New Orleans Saints when we spoke with linebacker Scott Fujita after he decided to move on to the Cleveland Browns. But he went into more detail today on SIRIUS' Mad Dog Radio about what sold him on the Browns organization.

Here's a recap, courtesy of SIRIUS, from his interview with host Gary Williams:

Host/Gary Williams: "Every guy who is on a Super Bowl team and then has the chance to 'cash in,' you go, why do you leave a great situation for a team that, right now, you wonder how much hope. How do you as a player assess the specialness of what you are leaving to why you choose what you chose to do, which is leave New Orleans?"

Scott Fujita: "Well, the business of the NFL can always be strange and free agency is unpredictable. So a lot of people want to ask 'why right now? Why are you doing this?' To be honest, the decision was pretty much made for me and that's the bottom line. I think anytime you let a couple of your veteran free agents test the market that means the team is willing to let you go and walk away and that's kind of how I feel in my situation. I'm sure [Darren] Sharper might be feeling the same way right now. When you have kind of radio silence on their end and they're letting you go out and take visits and get offers from other teams, it's just kind of the writing is on the wall at that point. But I feel great about the situation in Cleveland. I wouldn't have taken the visit if I didn't think it might be good fit. And then when I got up there, believe me, I evaluated the situation very critically. I asked all the tough questions, I needed answers and I felt great about the program and I'm excited about it because it's a good match.

Fujita: "There was demand for my services there and that demand just wasn't the same at all in New Orleans. Not saying that the Saints don't appreciate what I brought to the table the last four years because I know they do. I have great relationships with Sean [Payton] and [general manager] Mickey [Loomis]. They've had nothing but nice things to say to me the last couple days. It's just a weird part of the business and they have a lot of things they needed to do in planning to move forward and starting to take care of some of those young guys who need to start getting paid. Jahri Evans, Roman Harper, Pierre Thomas, they've got to take care of these guys at some point otherwise it's going to be a bitter locker room."

Williams: "You said you asked the critical questions. What do you, as a player assessing another organization that you may be becoming a part of, what do you ask of [head coach] Eric Mangini and [team president] Mike Holmgren?"

Fujita: "Well, I go in and, basically for me, when I sit down I want to know that there's a shared vision. And I have my unique set of ideas for how a program should be headed. And when I sat down in New Orleans four years ago with Sean [Payton] and Mickey [Loomis], and everybody thought I was crazy for even taking that visit, it was the same conversation. I want to know that I'm on the same page with the people who I'm going to be working for. So when I got to Cleveland I had a lot of the same types of questions with Mike Holmgren and Eric Mangini. I know there are a lot of perception things out there about what's going on in Cleveland. I had all those questions answered. I never judge anybody or anything until I can sit down with the guy face to face, man to man, and ask those questions and get some answers. And if I didn't feel good about the answers I received then my wife and I wouldn't be taking our kids up there. That's pretty much the bottom line."

Williams: "Obviously you've got your eyes wide open about not only the reality of how long you can be there and how much time you can play in this league, but you also know that it's fragile not only for players. It is for coaches as well. Is one of the questions you asked about the amount of security that the guy in the system that you're going to be in, with Eric Mangini, how much security he has? Can you get that personal?"

Fujita: "Yeah. I asked a lot of those personal-type questions because this is a huge personal decision for my family and I to move up there. We covered all the bases. We were in there a long time with a lot of meetings. I'm glad my wife was able to come with me because I value her opinion on everything and she was a big part of the decision. And it was just first class all the way. They really made a huge effort to make our visit as good as possible, to answer every question we had, and they just really took care of us. And another thing I appreciated, when I was in meetings all day with all the coaches and my wife was kind of just in limbo for a little while sitting in one of the conference rooms, everybody in the organization made time to go spend time with her, sit down, make sure she was comfortable. Mike Holmgren spent a couple of hours with her and I appreciate that kind of stuff because I know some places wouldn't take that extra step and they did for us."

I'm really liking this signing. If he's got a couple more years in the tank then he's sorely needed. I live for the day when the Browns don't have to rely on thirty somethings in free agency for good football. As it is, I'm really happy we got this guy even though I'm under no delusion that he'll get us to the promised land.

Favorite addition so far

Great fit on paper...hope it transfers onto the field.

DQ for the right price could be had, and if he gets gready about his contract, he could be moved for less. Like the guy, but he's a middler....lots better lots worse, he's in the middle.

We have to run the ball just to keep the air attack the rest of the NFL uses off the field.

Hope he doesn't get greedy, and I do hope we keep him. If nothing else, at least he is productive.

Fujita will push him too,...not a bad thing.

Not a bad thing at all.

DQ gets healthy, and all of a sudden we've got a really decent MILB tandem,....

Ok,...and I am Evan Turner,...