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- - Lofa Tatupu? (https://blackandgold.com/saints/41211-lofa-tatupu.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinSaint (Post 378030)

It's weird that people are ready to write off Vilma, and we're supposed to get excited about a guy who I also thought already had retired since his knees were shot.

I remember lurking through the Seahawks' message boards last off-season to find out what the situation was with Tatupu and they all pretty much agreed that he was done as a professional athlete.

He supposedly had lost all his former speed which honestly made him the player he was, and that loss of explosiveness had also caused his tackling to deteriorate to a level where he could not wrap up a guy if his life depended on it.

Now that doesn't really sound like a guy I would like to see take up a spot on the Saints' roster no matter how cap friendly he would be - naturally there's a possibility that he has overcome those injuries/surgeries, but that prospect is a lot bleaker than the same is for Vilma.

I'm just glad they look to be adressing the lb. spot. It could have been a 1 legged man in a a$$ kicking contest, it's the point.

Can't hurt to at least take a look at him, it's not like we're out anything...

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinSaint (Post 378030)

With the exception of a torn pectoral muscle, a couple of Pro Bowls and All Pro selection, and cap space, they sound almost interchangeable.

The Saints haven't signed the guy, it is a look see. Who knows, Tatupu could be the next coming of Dan Morgan...just saying!

Quote:

Originally Posted by papz (Post 378008)

As long as expectations are dampened...people wanted him to come in and start right away after two big knee surgeries and go figure no one signed him. We tend to fall in love with names as fans...

Now this is a good point...

Sometimes there are better players who become free agents because of money and draft status committed to a player ahead of said free agent on a depth chart elsewhere.

One thing I really have liked about Payton is that for the most part, he plays his best players, especially on offense...

Low risk, high reward.... at least the front office is looking into upgrading the linebacker corps

He did have an entire year off to get his body right and word is he's a hard worker. Those injuries though...it almost never works out and it's not just his knees either. I like taking a look at him however. You have to explore all the options available. As long as the Saints keep doing that I feel confident whatever we end up with will be as good as it can get.

i don't believe he comes to a team that he will ride the pine.i like his background just an old guy wanting 1 more year.

Always take a look is an approach I like. He didn't play for a year, if he has been doing rehab and training well he might be healthy and in great shape.

I'm not against taking a closer look at him, and for the record, I really liked him as a MLB in SEA. My point was simply that I'm surprised by the fact that many here are all too ready to kick Vilma to the curve without giving his health situation the benefit of the doubt - and on the other side there's hardly any concern regarding Tatupu's health even though he was in a worse shape in 2010 than Vilma was this last season.

That's all...

I always liked him bring him in