Lofa Tatupu?

halloween 65 · 02-14-2012, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by FinSaint

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.

|Mitch| · 02-14-2012, 10:31 AM

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

biloxi-indian · 02-14-2012, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by FinSaint

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.

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!

jeanpierre · 02-14-2012, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by papz

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...

RaginCajun83 · 02-14-2012, 11:24 AM

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

Beastmode · 02-14-2012, 11:30 AM

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.

st thomas · 02-14-2012, 12:18 PM

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.

Crusader · 02-14-2012, 12:19 PM

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.

FinSaint · 02-14-2012, 12:41 PM

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...

Luda34 · 02-14-2012, 12:43 PM

I always liked him bring him in

02-14-2012, 10:27 AM	#11
halloween 65 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Grand Haven, Michigan by way of a little Mississippi River town in Louisiana Posts: 5,893	Originally Posted by FinSaint 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.

02-14-2012, 11:03 AM	#13
biloxi-indian Site Donor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 1,706	Originally Posted by FinSaint 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. 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!

02-14-2012, 11:06 AM	#14
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Originally Posted by papz 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...

02-14-2012, 11:30 AM	#16
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126	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.
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126

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02-14-2012, 10:31 AM	#12
\|Mitch\| 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alexandria, La Posts: 11,303	Can't hurt to at least take a look at him, it's not like we're out anything...

02-14-2012, 11:24 AM	#15
RaginCajun83 Hou Saints Fan Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 5,050	Low risk, high reward.... at least the front office is looking into upgrading the linebacker corps

02-14-2012, 12:18 PM	#17
st thomas Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: lafayette Posts: 7,753	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.

02-14-2012, 12:19 PM	#18
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 8,025	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.

02-14-2012, 12:41 PM	#19
FinSaint Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Finland... formerly Southern Virginia Posts: 4,961	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...

02-14-2012, 12:43 PM	#20
Luda34 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston Tx Posts: 1,219	I always liked him bring him in