Bald-Headed Truth
August 15, 2012 - Robert Collias
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Baldwin grad Kaluka Maiava, the only MIL football player ever to be drafted by an NFL team, is in position to see a lot of playing time for the Cleveland Browns this season and he appears ready to take advantage of it.
Fellow linebacker Scott Fujita is suspended for the first three games of the season for his role in the Saints' bounty program and Maiava was tabbed as the starter in Fujita's spot. Browns' linebacking depth has been further hampered by a season-ending injury to starter Chris Gocong earlier this month in training camp.
Maiava missed 14 games himself in 2010 due to an injury.
In this story on the Browns website, Maiava said, “No one likes to sit on the bench. When your number’s called, you’ve got to go in there and produce for the team, get wins. This is the best I’ve felt since (the injury). It felt good running around. I’ve got the plays, a better understanding of the playbook and we’ve got good competition in the linebacking group and I’m looking forward to the season.”
This story also says Maiava now figures prominently into the Browns' plans.
In this blog, it says Maiava is a sure starter for the first three games while Fujita sits out and could still be in the starting mix even when Fujita returns. Scroll down to the bottom of this link, that is where the Maiava stuff is.
According to the depth chart on the team's website, Maiava is the starter at weakside linebacker and former Baldwin teammate JoJo Dickson is fourth string at the same position.
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