TheOak

I find reading between the lines very helpful in regards to the anxiety of a lot of issues we have had to face this off season. Drews Contract, Vilma, our Defense.... etc...

Its a good read. He shows intelligence and did his due diligence with out regard to a paycheck... I like this cat a lot after reading this.


Link Corrected:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...s-amid-scandal

METAIRIE, La. -- The specter of punishments for their bounty system was looming, and the New Orleans Saints knew it. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had announced as much on March 2, revealing an extensive investigation that would eventually lead to serious suspensions.
Just two weeks later, the Saints hosted free-agent linebacker Curtis Lofton on what amounted to a recruiting trip. They wined and dined him on a Sunday night, selling the former Atlanta Falcons star on donning the black and gold, despite the dark clouds swirling.
And Lofton made them work for it, rearing back and firing several pointed queries for the Saints. From a possible ban for linebacker Jonathan Vilma to whether coach Sean Payton would be on the sidelines to whether a contract would be done for quarterback Drew Brees -- Lofton had to know before he signed anything.


"I asked every single question," Lofton said Wednesday, after a crush of media dissipated from his locker at the Saints' facility following OTAs. "I mean, I asked about the bounties, what was going on with that, what players they thought were going to be suspended, what they thought the suspensions were, what they were going do with me and Vilma -- I asked all those questions. They were very up front and truthful with me, and I feel very comfortable with my decision."
When the smoke cleared, and when Lofton exited New Orleans the following day, he had heard enough. On March 25, Lofton agreed to a five-year deal with his former rival, giving the team a steady, hard-working middle linebacker who had 147 tackles last year.
All of this was before Vilma was suspended for the season (barring a successful appeal) and before Payton was banished from the facility for a year. Thanks to his fact-finding mission, Lofton prepared for all scenarios. And Lofton feels even more comfortable in New Orleans now than he did when he signed. The reason, as he explained, is obvious.
"It felt like family to me and I talked to the guys and ... you just get that gut feeling," Lofton said. "Like, this is where you need to be. These guys, they put their head down and go to work. Whatever's going on in this building, outside this building, no one worries about that. Because when we get on that football field, it's all football. I really feel like it's just bringing us all together."


That's what Lofton has bought into. The 6-foot, 241-pound former second-round pick from Oklahoma is slated to play in the middle now. Among the contingency situations Lofton considered, he broached the possibility of playing the weak-side spot if Vilma's suspension is lifted. He felt it would work itself out.
"Our main thing was we wanted to win," Lofton said. "Get all the best players on the field at the same time and go from there."
Through six practices, the Saints like what they see from Lofton. He has joined what interim coach Joe Vitt describes as the deepest linebacker group he's been around. And though the Saints watched Lofton hurt them over the years in the fierce rivalry with Atlanta, Vitt is still impressed with what he's seen.
"No. 1, he's lost some weight and body fat," Vitt said. "His ability to change direction in space, his ability to drop his weight and burst on the ball, and then his angles to the ball and his closing speed have been shocking to me. They've been shocking to his teammates, too. We know what we've got: We've got a thumper. To watch his athleticism in space, his ability to flip his hips and burst, has really been a nice addition."
As of now, it looks like Lofton will take Vilma's place for a defense now run by Steve Spagnuolo. Lofton has played in a similar system before, but he's working on learning this one, specifically. He considers his mind his greatest asset -- and it might the greatest asset of his team, too. While craziness swirls around them, the Saints have gone to work. What else can they do?


"All those things at this point are out of our control," defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis said. "The whole thing with (Brees), there's a business side to this, and I think we all know that. That will, I'm sure, get done in time. As far as the whole bounty situation, that's pretty much out of our hands. We come and we work and we go to practice every day like we're supposed to. Everything that happened last year has to be put in the past for us to move forward."
Lofton considered all of it. Once a Falcon, he didn't even allow himself any schadenfreude when the news broke of the Saints' bounty investigation. He was already considering joining the team. And he's happy he did.
"I played the worst-case scenarios," Lofton sad. "For me, it didn't matter. I still wanted to come here and be a part of something, and I think the players in this locker room are great. We have a good chance of going to the Super Bowl."

papz

Bad link.

Here's another article on Lofton from NFL.com.

Curtis Lofton has big shoes to fill with Saints

Under Pressure: Curtis Lofton

1. It's easy to forget that this will be an entirely new Saints defense in so many ways. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo takes over and asks a lot of his middle linebackers. Spags' two former players at MLB -- Antonio Pierce and James Laurinaitis -- both emerged as difference-makers under Spagnuolo.

Vilma probably won't have a starting job to return to when his suspension ends if Lofton lives up to his end of the bargain.

2. Lofton signed a big free agent deal with the Saints, who knew Vilma was going to be suspended. Interim head coach Joe Vitt calls his linebacker group the deepest he's ever coached. He lauded Lofton's lost weight and ability to change direction in space. Lofton should be an upgrade on Vilma as a tackler and someone in coverage.

3. Lofton's toughest task will be replacing Vilma as a leader. The middle linebacker is naturally the quarterback of the defense. This Saints group lacks an identity at this point. It's on Lofton to prove he was worth the money.

4. Lofton was viewed in Atlanta as a good, not great player. They wouldn't have let him leave via free agency otherwise, much less see him go to their biggest division rival.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...content_stream

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

All little common sense goes a long way.

TheOak

I am ok with that... Judging by success in the last few years, Atlanta's idea of talent doesnt seem to be able to deliver. They think Matty Lice is great

I sincerely doubt that the Chargers thought Brees would be "great" also...

I also suppose the Chargers did not view Sproles as a Great player... just good.

Rugby Saint II

He's cerebral from what I hear. I'm liking him more and more. Now I just hope he can ball!

Supertek

I remember this guy playing us tough. I think we were real lucky to get Him. He's got a great outlook. Think he will make us forget about Vilma much like Sproles did in respect to Reggie. Nothing against Vilma personally but that is just the way this is going.

SaintKiller

we did our home work before letting him walk...Atlanta Falcons 2012: Is the Departure of Lofton a Positive Sign - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com

That is why he's not in Atlanta, good player though!

AsylumGuido

And we did our homework before signing him. Lofton wants a ring and he knows his best chance of getting one is with the Saints.

CharityMike

They gotta spin it someway to make themselves feel better

lumm0x

I remember playing the Falcons and thinking the only guys on their defense that worried me in the least were Lofton and Abraham. They lost one of their most valuable defenders to a division rival. I guess even he couldn't stand that smelly pile.

TheOak

"A run stopping thumper" - I can not think of a more valuable addition to our defense.

"Lacks speed and agility"- First comment from Spags... Lost weight and body fat. (problem solved)