Linebacker Scott Fujita signed a three-year, $14 million with the Cleveland Browns this off-season, but his heart remains in New Orleans.

Fujita, 31, spent four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, signing as a free agent in March of 2006, seven months after Hurricane Katrina.

"It looked like a bomb went off," Fujita told the Associated Press of his arrival in New Orleans in '06. "Driving around the 9th Ward for the first time, it felt like I was in a third-world country. It was devastating -- unbelievable and mind-boggling."

The 6-5, 250-pound Fujita started 54 games during his four seasons with the Saints, totaling 340 tackles, 7.5 quarterback sacks, and four interceptions. Fujita also started all five playoff games the Saints have played between 2006-09, including their win over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

Fujita donated $25,000 of his playoff earnings to two Louisiana-based coastal restoration groups, and returned this off-season to aide in the clean-up following the oil spill in the Gulf.

"Who knows how long it's going to take to get things fixed," Fujita said of the spill. "It could impact generations of fishermen and it's such a huge part of the culture down there. A way of life is being threatened right now."