Saints LBs: "The Snow Patrol"

[Deus Vult]

Article at:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20 070801/SPORTS/708010341/1001/SPORTS


relevant excerpt:

"Fujita said one of the biggest knocks he's heard about the three starting linebackers from last season â€â€￾ who all happen to be white â€â€￾ is a perceived lack of elite athleticism.

"'I think our athleticism has been underestimated for years... I don't want to get into it too much, for obvious reasons, but there's a reason people call us the "Snow Patrol,"' Fujita said with a grin.

"'It's something that everybody notices and, really, I've got no problem with it.'"

 

[lumsdenpower]

There not too much of LB who are more athletic than Fujita

 

[PitBull]

I thought that race was never noticed in the NFL, just talent. Odd that such
notoriety would be assigned to the Saints LB's.

 

[C Darwin]

I always thought Lawrence Taylor was on "The Snow Patrol".


Or was he just patrolling for snow?

 

[Ground Fighter]

I always thought Lawrence Taylor was on "The Snow Patrol".


Or was he just patrolling for snow?

LOL...You got that right. I remember when I was a kid and he got caught buying blow near local housing projects in Paterson, NJ (roughly 15 min. from where I live). It was funny then, and its still funny to this day.

 

[Ground Fighter]

Article at:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20 070801/SPORTS/708010341/1001/SPORTS

relevant excerpt:

"Fujita said one of the biggest knocks he's heard about the three starting linebackers from last season â€â€￾ who all happen to be white â€â€￾ is a perceived lack of elite athleticism.

"'I think our athleticism has been underestimated for years... I don't want to get into it too much, for obvious reasons, but there's a reason people call us the "Snow Patrol,"' Fujita said with a grin.

"'It's something that everybody notices and, really, I've got no problem with it.'"

Oh, believe me, if I were him I'd have a serious "problem" with it. And you could bet that my "responsive comments" to that little statement would be hostile, and plastered all over every sportspage in America. Why you ask? Because I would probably say something like, "Well, how would black athletes like being called "The Sh*t Squad" (or something like that due to the darker complexion of their skin)?

I can see it now. Chris Berman would be in near tears calling me a racist, demanding that I retire from the game. That mudflap of a sportscaster, Mark Schlereth, would be calling me out, demanding that I publically aplogize to antyhing dark. And that tardo-on-wheels, Shannon Sharpe, would be...well...we aren't really able to understand ANYTHING that comes out of his mouth (according to the Corporate Sports Report anyway

). But you get the idea. And Scott Fujita just blew a perfect opportunity to expose the reverse racism in the NFL, and I'm a little ticked off at him that he didn't seize the opportunity. I sure as hell would have.Edited by: Ground Fighter

 

[devans]

I think Scott did expose it, but in a tactful way. He first said their athleticism was underestimated "I think our athleticism has been underestimated for years" he then said "I don't want to get into it too much, for obvious reasons" meaning it's because we're white. He then said, "but there's a reason people call us the "Snow Patrol" spelling it out that it is because they are white.
He can't really be too blunt about or it could cost him his job, or his relationship with teamates

 

[gsm1988]

Fujita is half Asian. I remember him from when he played for the Chiefs. I never thought he got much of a chance in KC. He and Mike Maslowski were both much more talented then they were given credit for.

And you are right C Darwin. Lawrence Taylor did play for the "snow patrol."

Edited by: gsm1988

 

[Don Wassall]

Fujita is white. He was adopted and raised by an Asian father and white mother.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

I used this article this morning in an argument over the existence of anti-white discrimination and the person totally ignored it. Some people want to live with the blinders on.

 

[gsm1988]

Fujita is white. He was adopted and raised by an Asian father and white mother.

Thanks for clearing that up. He looks all White in some pictures and mixed in others.

 

[White Shogun]

I used this article this morning in an argument over the existence of anti-white discrimination and the person totally ignored it. Some people want to live with the blinders on.

Me, too, Reb! I cited at least a dozen examples, and all he said was, "I believe the best players are on the field on Sunday, period."

 

[cslewis1]

I always thought Lawrence Taylor was on "The Snow Patrol".


Or was he just patrolling for snow?

LOL...You got that right. I remember when I was a kid and he got caught buying blow near local housing projects in Paterson, NJ (roughly 15 min. from where I live). It was funny then, and its still funny to this day.

 

[celticdb15]

Hey im all for the snow patrol. Let people call them what they want, they are going ot have a solid season

 

[Don Wassall]

The snow may bemixed with coalthis year, as by most accounts Brian Simmons will be starting in the middle over Mark Simoneau.

 

[whiteCB]

I always thought Lawrence Taylor was on "The Snow Patrol".


Or was he just patrolling for snow?

He was always just lookin to hit the slopes!

 

[Don Wassall]

This can't be good:
<H2>Fujita arrives at camp on crutches</H2>
<H1>Saints linebacker hurt after trip to water slide park</H1>


[url]http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/specials/ preview/2007/08/08/bc.fbn.saints.fujita.ap/index.html [/url]

 

[voice]

What was Sean Payton thinking? Taking 250-350lb men to a waterslide park? I am this size and these places aren't made for large men as they can get hurt just slamming off the plastic side as they slide down!

Stupid!

 

[backrow]

well, at least he's not on IR yet... or is he?

 

[Quiet Speed]

Maybe someone can find other details on Scott's injury. The Associated Press (I once heard someone used the term associated mess - LOL) says due to soreness from a heel bruise Scott will not play tonight.

Can't recall it being brought up on the forum. Rob Ninkovich can't buy a break, he injured a knee again, not the same one as last year. I don't believe it's season ending.

Who's out for Saints' preseason match tonight against Bills

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said starting linebacker Scott Fujita likely will not play tonight because of soreness from a heel bruise that occurred during a trip to a water park this week.

Also out tonight: left tackle Jammal Brown (knee), center Jeff Faine (calf), receiver David Patten (turf toe), defensive end Rob Ninkovich (knee), and guard Dave Yovanovits (knee).

The Saints play host to Buffalo at the Superdome, with a 7 p.m. kickoff on KNOE. This is the team's first preseason game to appear on a network broadcast.

Tight end Billy Miller, who cut open his forehead and required stitches in the same waterpark trip where Fujita was injured, is expected to play -- even though he couldn't practice Wednesday afternoon or Thursday.

http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs...26/1006/SPORTS

 

[whiteknight]

http://www.footballsfuture.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=153551 &postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

wondey why they consider the saints to have the worst linebacking core in the NFL

 

[Colonel_Reb]

The LBs did pretty good last year, although that case could be made for 06's secondary.

 

[lumsdenpower]

they just said that 'cause they don't really watch them, they had one very bad game against Michael Vick when they give him 166yards but that not's all the fault of the LB..

 

[Quiet Speed]

The "Snow Patrol" is intact so far. Mark Simoneau is having a good camp and hasn't been unseated by Brian Simmons at this point. I can see a scenario where Mark splits time depending on the down and distance. As mentioned somewhere on the forum, it may be asking a little too much for Mark to be a run stuffing monster.

By all accounts the Saints were going to draft A. J. Hawk until Houston passed on Bush. That might have been considered a borderline hate crime or something had the Saints had Fujita, Shanle, Hawk and Simoneau as their linebackers.



Simoneau holds his ground

linkEdited by: Quiet Speed

 

[highschoolcoach]

Article at:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20 070801/SPORTS/708010341/1001/SPORTS

relevant excerpt:

"Fujita said one of the biggest knocks he's heard about the three starting linebackers from last season â€â€￾ who all happen to be white â€â€￾ is a perceived lack of elite athleticism.

"'I think our athleticism has been underestimated for years... I don't want to get into it too much, for obvious reasons, but there's a reason people call us the "Snow Patrol,"' Fujita said with a grin.

"'It's something that everybody notices and, really, I've got no problem with it.'"

Just curious, has an all-black linebacking corps ever been considered to be lacking "elite athleticism" or is that a term reserved for white athletes? Is there anybody who reads a lot who has ever read about a black linebacker lacking elite athleticism?