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New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton says Scott Fujita departure was purely business | - NOLA.com

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton says Scott Fujita departure was purely business...

Calling Scott Fujita one of his favorite players, New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said Monday the linebacker went to the Cleveland Browns because it was an offer too good to refuse.

Rusty Costanza/The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton said Scott Fujita signing with Cleveland is 'business'."In this profession, you know in the end it's an equation," Payton said. "What are you going to do with Jahri Evans and Darren Sharper and Scott Fujita and other players and all of that comes into play at this time of year. How are you going to allocate your dollars?"

Fujita signed a three year contract with the Browns that will reportedly pay him $14 million, with $8 million guaranteed. With various incentives, the contract could be worth as much as $16 million, according to a league source.

The Saints were never in that ballpark, according to people familiar with the situation. Payton did not provide exact figures Monday and instead made it clear that while Fujita's departure as an unrestricted free agent is a loss it was not one that was entirely unexpected.

"Scott was the first player I brought here and he was with me in Dallas and we go back," Payton said. "We even have the same agent, there are all kinds of connections here. He'll be missed here, but I'm thrilled he has this opportunity in Cleveland."

In an e-mail Sunday night, Fujita, who turns 31 next month, called the occasion "bittersweet" because he and his wife, Jaclyn, are very fond of New Orleans, the city in which the couple's twin daughters were born. Like quarterback Drew Brees, Fujita is a Saint who has given much to the city off the field, and Payton cited him as one of a handful of players who helped redefine the Saints not only as a football team but as franchise deeply rooted in its community.

the-commish

I am sorry to see Scott go (especially to the Browns) but supply and demand rules the roost in free agency. The Saints probably told Fujita the maximum they would resign him for, and when the Browns trumped that, he knew he had to look out for himself and his family first.

Holmgren will have the Browns back competitive in a couple of seasons. They probably need to get rid of Mad Genius first, however.

voodooido

I am moving so I just found this out. I am really shocked.With the need at Dline in the first rd This lets me know they feel a backup cold be ready to step up.

strato

I hope since we won the big one ..our front office doesnt go and get all cheap on us...i want a dynasty!!! lol

CantonLegend

my true colors....



but that team already has a super bowl now.....im happy for the browns to pick up a good football player and a true leader....but when we play them next year i hope we **** all over fujitas face

stockman311

Quite frankly, that is why you aren't a GM in the NFL. Loomis doesn't have the luxury to get "steamed" if he loses either Fujita or Sharper. It's a business decision and obviously their are 53 moving parts that have to be taken into account. From a fans perspective, losing a member of your Superbowl team is tough. I think everyone will agree that Scott Fujita is a fantastic person, and was a very solid LB for us. However, he will be 31 when the season starts, and LB's are much like RB's in the fact that they start to wear down as they cross that 30 line. Fujita missed 6 games last year, so I believe the Saints are looking to get younger and more athletic at that position. The Saints were not willing to part with $8MM today and possibly $16MM over the next three years for a LB on the wrong side of 30. I think the decision was sound.

We have young players like Dunbar, Mitchell, Arnoux, Mitchell, Evans, Casillas. With the exception of Arnoux, all of those guys are veterans now. One of them either needs to step up this offseason or we need to look at a stud OLB like Weatherspoon, Jerry Hughes, or Daryl Washington in the draft.

Now we have the ability to sign a free agent for the same money Fujita got from the Browns. It is Loomis' job to find a better player for that money. This guy just brought us a Superbowl. I trust him to walk across water at this point, and therefore have no problem with him letting Fujita walk. He and Payton have done a FANTASTIC job, with the draft, finding undrafted free agent gems, and free agency (Jason David not withstanding). Let's see how our roster looks in September before we judge how the offseason went.

ScottF

Disappointed to see him go, but that money wasn't something we needed to match. Popularity ans ability are 2 different things. Good for him.

Hopefully we are now in a position to sign a DE or LB, or lock down Sharper. I am not panicking yet, but I'd prefer not to lose 3 starters on D in one year.

stockman311

Another word on Sharper. I think the Saints made an incredibly wise choice in not franchising him. The fact that he hasn't visited any other teams, and no one has really even sniffed him tells you all you need to know. A 35 year old safety isn't worth $6MM next year and is not really even worth a 2 year deal at this point in his career. I think if he sees this eventually he will sign a 1 year deal in the $3MM range with us, but he had to go test the market to understand that he is better off taking it year by year with us in a system that has Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter protecting his backside than he is signing with an also ran and going back to a Cover 2 where his weaknesses are exposed.

One last thing on Sharper. I love the guy, but let's take a look at who he got is 9 picks on last year.

2 INT's against Matthew Stafford, making his first career NFL start
1 INT against Kevin Kolb, making his first career NFL start
2 INT's against Mark Sanchez, making his 4th career NFL start
1 INT against Matt Ryan, in his second NFL season
1 INT against Tom Brady, when the Patriots where in full pass come from behind mode
1 INT against Josh Freeman, making his 15th career NFL start.

With the exception of Ryan and Brady, who I classify as excellent competition, Sharper feasted on Rookies and Second year QB's and I would say was pedestrian at best against quality QB's in the playoffs. I would actually classify his play in the playoffs as poor. 10 solo tackles and 1 Pass Defensed total against Arizona, Minny, and Indy combined.

Like I said, I love the guy and believe he brings a lot to the Defense in leadership skills, but we need to improve at the position of FS next year IMHO.

strato

Oh such wisdom...i can be steamed if want buddy..

stockman311

I never said you couldn't chief. I said I'm glad your not the GM of the Saints.