Scott Fujita Officially Retires (as a Member of the Saints)

You can officially call it a career for Scott Fujita.

After signing with the Cleveland Browns in 2010, Fujita played for the Browns through 2012. Last season was certainly an adventure for the veteran linebacker, as he was at the forefront of the bounty-gate scandal. He never actually served a suspension and eventually had his name cleared, but his season was still cut short after injuring his neck part-way through the season.

The injury was considered career-threatening, and with him set to hit the free agent market in 2013, there was no way Cleveland was going to bring him back. That became official on Monday when Fujita signed a one-day contract with the New Orleans Saints so that he could retire as a member of the team he won a Super Bowl with.

Where one journey ends, another begins. Thank you for a great 11 years. Proud to retire as a New Orleans Saint. twitter.com/scottfujita99/…

— Scott Fujita (@scottfujita99) April 22, 2013

"I’ve been fortunate to play in this league for a long time and for some great organizations, but there is no doubt that my times spent in New Orleans were some of the best years of my life," said Fujita in a statement released by the Saints. "The way the team and the community embraced us when we first arrived, and the way they continue to do so, even today, shows how deep this connection is. I’m honored to be a part of this organization and so proud to retire as a New Orleans Saint."

Although Fujita was considered a starter, he was only healthy enough to play in 23 games over three seasons with the Browns. He was more known for his veteran presence in the locker room and his representation in the NFL Players Association.