Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita has had an abnormal season to say the least.
He has dealt with a suspension for his alleged role in the New Orleans bounty scandal, a successful appeal, a new suspension and now he has to deal with another issue: a possible career-ending injury.
According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, who has spoken with sources in the league, Fujita suffered a neck injury that could possibly derail his career.
The 11-year veteran was inactive last for last week's game against the Cincinnati Bengals and was listed on the injury report with neck and shoulder injuries.
CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora also confirmed the story, saying: "discussions between the player and specialists are ongoing to determine a course of action, including possibly retirement."
Reporters contacted Fujita's agent Don Yee, but he would not confirm the reports about the injury or the possible retirement.
Fujita was drafted out of California in the 2002 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He played one season for the Dallas Cowboys before being traded to the New Orleans Saints.
While with the Saints, Fujita was named a defensive captain and played a part in the teams Super Bowl XLVI win over the Indianapolis Colts. He signed as a free agent with Cleveland in 2010 and has only played in four games this season, collecting 14 tackles and one sack.
Last week following a ruling reducing his suspension by Roger Goodell from three games to one for his role in the bounty scandal, Fujita came out against the commissioner for "abusing his power."
Goodell first wrote a letter to Fujita, saying he was "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."
"Your own comments confirm that players were encouraged to 'crank up the John Deere tractor and cart those guys off' the playing field." Goodell also said, "Even in the face of repeated appeals to 'crank up the John Deere tractor and cart the guy off,' you and others now claim that the objective was instead merely to 'knock the wind out' of your opponents, requiring them to leave the game for only a play or two."
Fujita responded by saying that he took issue with the "condescending tone used in his redetermination letter was neither accurate nor productive."
He continued: "Additionally, I am now purportedly being suspended for failing to confront my former defensive coordinator for his inappropriate use of language. This seems like an extremely desperate attempt to punish me. I also think it sets a dangerous precedent when players can be disciplined for not challenging the behavior of their superiors. This is an absolute abuse of the power that's been afforded to the Commissioner."
Throughout the entire ordeal, Fujita has said that he did not contribute any money or participate in the bounty program.
"For me, the issue of player health and safety is personal," Fujita said. "For the league and the Commissioner, it's about perception and liability. The Commissioner says he is disappointed in me. The truth is, I'm disappointed in him. His positions on player health and safety since a 2009 congressional hearing on concussions have been inconsistent at best."
"He failed to acknowledge a link between concussions and post-career brain disease, pushed for an 18-game regular season, committed to a full season of Thursday night games, has continually challenged players' rights to file workers compensation claims for on-the-job injuries, and he employed incompetent replacement officials for the start of the 2012 season. His actions or lack thereof are by the league's own definition, 'conduct detrimental. My track record on the issue of player health and safety speaks for itself. And clearly, as I just listed, the Commissioner's does too."
Fujita was one of the emotional leaders for the Saints during their Super Bowl run and has been an underrated player in the league for years. He has been dealing with injuries while embroiled in the bounty scandal and this one could possible end his career.
For his career Fujita has 23.5 sacks, seven interceptions and 767 tackles. His best season came in 2003 with the Chiefs when he had 111 tackles, four sacks and an interception. He won an NFC Defensive Player of the Week award in 2006 with the Saints.
