CharityMike

The New Orleans Saints' newest linebacker, Curtis Lofton, had the same question as everybody else when the Saints began pursuing him in free agency. What are their plans for Jonathan Vilma?

Although both Lofton and Vilma have excelled at the middle linebacker spot throughout their careers, Saints defensive coordinator told Lofton that he sees both players as versatile - and that the Saints just want to load up their defense with as many good players as they can.

"One thing about me, I don't have an ego. And I know Jonathan doesn't have an ego," said Lofton, who spoke with Vilma on Sunday morning and shared their mutual excitement for the new alliance. "When I was on my visit, they asked, 'Are you just set on playing middle?' And I said, 'No, what I'm set on is winning games and winning championships.'

New Orleans Saints linebacker Curtis Lofton eager to join forces with Jonathan Vilma - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com

Makes you think we have no plans of getting rid of Vilma.

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CharityMike

I particularly LOVED this statement:"I wanted to go to a team that, No. 1, had a chance to win a Super Bowl,had true fans, a great defensive coordinator."

WhoDat!656

I like the 2nd part of that statement:

"...Then once the Saints called, I was like, 'Wow,'" Lofton said. "When I took my visit there, I loved it. I knew I was going there. I didn't need to visit anywhere else. I told my agent that."

|Mitch|

Could we see a combination of Wilson, Lofton, Vilma at times?

Think of the possibilities...

dizzle88

To say if this guy was still playing for the falcons I wouldn't really like him, but he's giving our organisation so much credit and he wants to win, the LB core of lofton Vilma with chamberlain/ martez Wilson mixed in could've great!! Can't wait to see the results under spags tutorage

voodooido

Yep, maybe shanle now. I would hate to see him go because his cap hit is only 2.9 mil. He could provide depth for cheap. On the note of salary cap hits did anyone see Moore is sch to make 4.6 mil this year? Kinda high for a part time player. I would force a resigning of Ellis and Moore or have them hit the road. That would clear up 12 mil to sign Brees, a wr and a dt.

FinSaint

The Saints do have depth at the LB position - Bussey, Casillas, Herring, Hunter, Wilson, Lofton, Shanle, and Vilma - so Shanle's cap hit of $2.95M, while not that expensive, could be too much to justify with the tight cap.

I guess Humber and Dunbar are not returning, but I would think that the Saints are going to pick at least one LB from the draft, and maybe add another UDFA, so they'll have some depth for the rotation and in case of injuries.


Moore re-signed with the Saints last off-season and his 5-year $20M deal was not an over-payment by the Saints, they were actually very lucky to be able to keep him at that price (i.e. possible hometown discount).

Because the first year of that contract was with a small cap hit, the rest will be closer to $5M/yr (2013: $4.1M; 2014: $4.7M; and 2015: $5.2M), but those are still very affordable hits for what Moore brings to the field.

He is the Saints' #2 WR, and has the best hands out of the whole receiver corps, and with that in mind the Saints are fortunate to only be paying him what they are.




Thanks for finding something negative in an otherwise positive news!

"I'm not bashing people, I'm bashing their opinions because in my opinion their opinion is wrong" - Danno

ScottF

Shanle is definitely gone now.

SaintKiller

wow as a true Atlanta Falcons fan, that actually stung!!!

WhoDat!656

Maybe the falcAints will continue their tradition of signing Saints releases and waste $$ on Shanle!