Saints sign Curtis Lofton
 

According to several sources, we've got him.

"The New Orleans Saints have added some needed depth at middle linebacker, snatching a player away from a division rival in the process. Curtis Lofton will be making an inter-division move, going from the Atlanta Falcons to the Saints. New Orleans signed him to a five-year contract on Saturday."

http://www.sbnation.com/2012-nfl-fre...orleans-saints

Loomis isn't suspended yet.

Saints Agree To Terms With LB Curtis Lofton

For Immediate Release: March 24, 2012

New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis has announced that the club has agreed to terms on a five-year contract with unrestricted free agent LB Curtis Lofton.

Lofton, 6-0, 241 pounds, was originally picked by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round (37th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft, starting 63 of the 64 games he has appeared in. In four seasons, Lofton has notched 577 tackles (387 solo), while filling up the stat sheet with four sacks, three interceptions, seven forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 15 pass defenses.

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/gk3235

What?!

:bng:

You read it. My guess is that Vilma is looking at missing some games and will be cut.

I know, just wasn't expecting GREAT news!

edit: bet that pisses off the Falcons... lol

:cheering::party::banana:

YEEEEESSS!

Can we trade our second rounder for Spoon?

Yes I know and you know but the failcons??

Some good news!

From WalterFootball:

ooops! lol

This is wonderful news. Falcon fans heads are exploding right about now and I'm going to enjoy it.

Headin on over to the rival central board at failcon life.

We just killed two birds with one stone! Saaweeet!!!

Great job Loomis, hey Atlanta and Goddell bite me

Booyea! Let the good times roll!

Ho. Lee. Crap.

This is awesome. Just Awesome.

Thanks for your contribution Vilma! Good luck to you!

This is some great news!! Anything to stick it to the falcons is cool with me!

I'm going to say it. This is fantabulous.

Saints lift Curtis Lofton from Falcons | ProFootballTalk

One way for the Saints to minimize the impact of suspended defensive players in 2012 is to sign defensive players who didn’t play for the Saints from 2009 through 2011, the three years in which the team used a bounty system.

That’s precisely what the Saints did Saturday night.

Per a league source, the Saints signed former Falcons middle linebacker Curtis Lofton to a five-year deal.

Coincidentally (or not), Jonathan Vilma plays middle linebacker for the Saints. He’s widely believed to be facing a significant suspension for his role in the bounty program, which included (according to NFL Security’s confidential report of March 2) offering $10,000 to anyone who knocked former Vikings quarterback Brett Favre out of the 2009 NFC title game.

UPDATE 10:20 p.m. ET: The Saints have announced the deal with Lofton. “Curtis is a versatile, hard-working player that has displayed a knack for being around the football, and more importantly, making plays on the ball,” G.M. Mickey Loomis said in a team-issued release. “He has the ability to play all three linebacker positions and we feel that he’s just entering the prime of his career. We think he can come to New Orleans and fit in well and provide us with a significant contribution to our defense.”

loomis also went on to say that vilma is still a big part of the saints plans. itll be nice if we can find a way to have both on the field at the same time after vilmas suspension and assuming he restructures his deal. either way this is big time news.

safe to assume that Shanle is done then?

Could we be so fortunate?

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, let's get you out of that tired a$$ dirty bird outfit and get you one of these blackandgold specials.

Just saw the news on espn's website. Wooot!!

I was afraid Chamberlain was all they'd get, now it makes more sense. Lofton isn't awesome, but he's a legitimate upgrade.

It'll be interesting to see the structuring and value of the contract. I'm very happy they signed him, I just didn't think they could afford to, but I should have known Loomis would find a way to make it happen.

Loomis is a genius!

It sounds like a 3/4. Ive been saying it for a while now. Ellis will be cut or restruct. We have Wilson, Shanle, Lofton, Vilma and Chambers. Those 5 will rotate out unless Shanle is cut.

great highlights!

That's it, Super Bowl here we come! The prognosticators and "analcysts" can eat me. I just had a feeling we were going to land Lofton. Talk about rebuilding the defense! We got Chamberlain and Lofton - two very nice prizes on defense. Plus Brodrick Bunkley for a DT and Ben Grubbs to replace Carl Nicks.

Plus we have arguably the best O-line coach in the league.

We absolutely RULE!!!!!

LOVE the Lofton pick up.

As many of you stated it may be to replace Vilma due to his suspension. However, ponder this; Vilma only gets a 8 game suspension so the Saints keep him and he restructures his contract. Who plays MLB when he comes back?
In that scenario (wonderful scenario) I would love to see the LB core as follows: WLB-Vilma MLB-Lofton SLB-Wilson. What a dream team!

Vilma may be getting old but he can still play just needs time to heal and a suspension may give him that.

As far as Chamberlain goes, he reminds me of Herring so I am not to excited for that pick-up.

So if you can't beat em join em huh Curtis?

Nice pickup ... and the Saints go marching on ... you guys are going to be alright.

hope you guys over payed for him but other then that you guys have a solid two down thumper, good luck Curtis you did great things in Atlanta!

i'm as happy as a little school girl. now pardon me as i go for a skip down the street.

Highlights show he's always around the ball and whenever we play the falcons his name is read constantly, great pickup

Funny. Michael Boley was a "two down guy" with Atlanta too... :dunce:

Can't help but think they know Vilma's gonna get suspended for the entire season.

If not, I'm OK with Vilma at WLB.

So long Jo-Lonn Dunbar, you were one of my personal favorites.