Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

We caught wind earlier today of linebacker Scott Fujita’s intention to retire as a member of the Saints not long before the launch of Monday’s PFT Live. So, at some point in the 20 minutes before the show started, I thumb-typed a series of questions for Fujita with one hand while shaving my face and adjusting my toupee with the other.

Fujita responded, from Peru, where he is helping former teammate Steve Gleason traverse the terrain.

Here’s the full, unedited question and answer session with Fujita, who signed his contract in Machu Picchu, Peru.

Q: Why the Saints?

A: I’ve been fortunate to play in this league for a long time for some great organizations. But my time spent in New Orleans was certainly the best four years of my career. When Mickey Loomis found out I was preparing to officially retire, he reached out as I was about to board a plane to Peru, to ask if I’d like to sign a contract with the team and officially retire as a Saint. I was blown away by that. And what better time to make something like this official than on the grounds of Machu Picchu with my friend & former teammate Steve Gleason?

Q: Did you have any offers for 2013?

A: When I got hurt this past season, it was pretty clear that it would likely be the end of my career. But I didn’t want to rush into any decisions. I wanted to catch my breath before making any public announcements. But I think most people were pretty sure it was the end of the road for me as a player. I’ve been pretty beat up the past few years, am clearly not the same player, and I’ve already had one neck surgery & am possibly facing another down the road, so we had to make health the priority. It’s definitely time.

Q: What’s next?

A: My goal is to take it easy for a bit & spend a lot of time with my family. It’s been a hectic couple of years, so it’ll be nice to slow things down. But I don’t sit still very well. I enjoy writing and am evaluating a few opportunities there, which would be nice because I could work primarily from home.

Q: How do you want to be remembered as football player?

A: More than anything else, I just want everyone to know how appreciative I am of every opportunity that’s been afforded to me. From being a walk-on at Berkeley and having the chance to compete for a scholarship, to my experiences in Kansas City, Dallas, New Orleans, and Cleveland, I’m just very grateful.

Q: Where does the bounty scandal fit in your football legacy?

A: I don’t spend too much time thinking about that anymore. For a while it was something we had to deal with almost every single day, and you almost felt like you would never be able to move past it. But as I expected, over time most people realized how ridiculous the whole thing was, so I’m not overly concerned at this point about how it may affect my legacy, especially given how everything ultimately played out.

Q: On a scale of 1 to 100 you leave football with health at what number?

A: Probably about a 50 at this point, and hopefully that number climbs over time. I feel good about the fact that I’m able to walk away from this game on my own terms, pretty much in one piece.


Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team | ProFootballTalk

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

I hope this happens! Very classy move by the Saints. Fujita was an outstanding player in his prime.

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

Class Act!

http://nbcprofootballtalk.files.word...to-2.jpg?w=250


Though, I could never understand why we wouldn't overpay for Fujita - yet, we overpaid for Roman Harper and Will Smith?!?

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

We gave Harper and Smith big contracts while still in their prime, Fujita as much as I like him, hell I was one of the first people to wear a Fujita jersey to the games in 2006 was clearly at the end of his career when he signed with Cleveland. In his 3 years in Cleveland he never played the full year. His best game of course was against us.

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

gya, that game still ruins my mood sometimes. we lost to the Browns!

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

He could be the most over-rated LB we've ever had.

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

back when he came to the saints he was nothing more than solid LB.

Simply a blue collar lunch pail guy much like site favorite Shanle (:poke: ). love them hate them all they ever did was do their job and do it well enough to keep all comers from taking their starter job. Smart and gave 110%

being just a ball player some times is good enough

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

Overrated? I think he did a pretty good job while he was here. Shanle's the ine that's overrated.

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

Had we offered him what the Browns did, he would have been the most OVERPAID LB we ever had. But to call him over rated makes no sense to me.

Nobody ever called him a super star. He's the most productive outside linebacker we've had since the days of Keith Mitchell and Charlie Clemons. Granted he wasn't nearly as productive as those two were in their best years, but then he wasn't really expected to be.

I'd love to have a dynamic, pass rushing OLB again, but if we have to settle for less glamorous type of players, I'll take what Fujita gave us any day over some of the slop we've had over the last decade.

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

LMAO

Thanks, needed a good laugh today...

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

Loomis reached out to him. We really do think highly of our players and are some times overly loyal. But this was a good move from the FO. Under Payton the Saints are a family. The who Dat nation is definitely family. :bng:

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

I disagree with this. Fujita spent his time fairly equally with three different teams in the NFL. IF we are going to ask someone to come back and retire as a Saint it needs to be someone that spent over at least 60% of their career here.

Emmitt Smith is an example of doing it the right way.

Morten Anderson would have been a prime candidate for this.

Just my honest opinion, I set a little higher bar than most.

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

Oak, get where you are coming from - but this is not your father's NFL...

Free Agency has changed everything, as Free Agency is also evolving...

That said...

Fujita was the first free agent to sign with the Saints after the Saints returned home Post Hurricane Katrina at the encouragement of Commissioner Tagliabue; for Fujita's part, this was an act of faith because many free agents wanted nothing to do with the Saints because of Tom Benson's reputation (which he earned and has since corrected) and the uncertainty of the long term viability of the Saints to stay in New Orleans...

It cannot be understated how big a risk that was for a free agent to take with one's career...

Fujita also threw himself into recovery efforts, often times at a sacrifice to himself (waiving appearance fees, and yes many athletes collect appearance fees for their "charitable foundations" even when it is for another charity)...

Though I disagree with some of his Left Coast Politics - we are a better team because of his legacy...

This guy, in my humble opinion, is one of the best Saints we've ever had and though I'm often critical of Loomis - this is one move for which I salute Mickey Loomis...

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

Honestly, my opinion has nothing to do with Scott as a person or a player.

It's more about standing the test of time in New Orleans. Scott left of his own free will for more money, he wasn't traded, and he had a place here; those decisions should come with consequences.

If not for injury, he would still be playing some where else.

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

after the way the saints treated him? i doubt he would agree to it. that was a bitter separation.

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

I thought he was quoted as wanting to go into the HOF as a Saint (although they don't do it that way anymore).

And wasn't he here for his HOF induction and the all-time team thing?

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

I'm glad he retired as a Saint. Not because he was a great player but because he came to New Orleans at a really bad time and he gave 100% every game. He may not have had the most talent on the field but nobody seemed to out work him. Call it heart, call it blue collar mentality but whatever you want to call it, I have a lot of respect for it. And I'm glad he thinks the 4 years he spent here were the best of his career.

Just my opinion

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

i have been thinking about that myself. your right the axe does seem to be burried

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

He gets a major pass in my book for heckling Manning at the SB

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

The issue isn't the Saints putting him in the team's HOF.

It's his retirement only.

I would agree with the SB44 team being inducted as a team.

I would completely disagree with Fujita being inducted on his own.

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

Agreed, I would certainly not support his induction as an individual, but I do appreciate him being a part of that SB winning team and nothing will change that.

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

This explains a lot.

Re: Saints asked Fujita to retire as a member of the team
 

yep thats scott lmoa the whole machu picchu thing does not surprise me with him.
we did have more than a few spiritualist on that super bowl squad. :beatnik:
Cool Dudes that played ball 8-)