Saints' Michael Mauti opens up, cracks joke about ulcerative colitis battle

"Well, look, I mean, this is really just all part of my big ploy to get like a big Charmin sponsorship," said Michael Mauti, who will miss the rest of the season following surgery to correct his ulcerative colitis.METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints linebacker and special teams captain Michael Mauti opened up to the media Tuesday about his four-year battle with ulcerative colitis -- which will end his season after doctors recommended he have surgery to try and correct the problem long-term.

Mauti, a New Orleans-area native who began his career with the Minnesota Vikings, insisted, "This isn't the end of my career, by any means."

"Look, it's something I played through as long as I could this…