Fujita accuses Goodell of power abuse

Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita accused Roger Goodell of abusing his power as commissioner for his handling of the New Orleans Saints’ bounty case.

Fujita also criticized the NFL’s recent record on player safety and said he plans to appeal the reduced suspension. He expects to play Sunday when the winless Browns (0-5) host the Cincinnati Bengals.

Fujita, who had his three-game suspension reduced to one on Tuesday by Goodell, released a statement Wednesday in which he expressed being most angered with a letter he received from Goodell after his suspension was reduced.

Before practicing Wednesday, Fujita said in …

Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita accused Roger Goodell of abusing his power as commissioner for his handling of the New Orleans Saints’ bounty case.

Fujita also criticized the NFL’s recent record on player safety and said he plans to appeal the reduced suspension. He expects to play Sunday when the winless Browns (0-5) host the Cincinnati Bengals.

Fujita, who had his three-game suspension reduced to one on Tuesday by Goodell, released a statement Wednesday in which he expressed being most angered with a letter he received from Goodell after his suspension was reduced.

Before practicing Wednesday, Fujita said in the statement that he’s pleased Goodell acknowledged he never participated in the Saints’ pay-for-hits program. However, Fujita did not like the content or the tone of the letter, in which the commissioner chastised him for not stepping in and stopping the program.

“For him to come out and say he was disappointed in me for not standing up to my coach,” Fujita said after practice Wednesday, “I haven’t had someone tell me they were disappointed in me since I was 12 years old, and that was my father.”

Around the league

Barring any unexpected setbacks between now and Sunday, Washington rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III will start against visiting Minnesota. He practiced Wednesday and showed no effects from a mild concussion. … Buffalo defensive end Mark Anderson will have surgery on his left knee and will be out indefinitely. … Green Bay running back Cedric Benson was placed on injured reserve. … Carolina Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil is out for the season after suffering a left foot injury.