| Lofton helped lead a strong Falcons linebacking corps. (Getty Images) |
Once Stephen Tulloch signed a deal to return to the Lions, the middle-linebacker dominos were prepped to start falling. And a big one fell on Saturday night, when the Saints announced a five-year deal with Curtis Lofton.
Lofton was our 15th-rated free agent and the highest-remaining (non-restricted) player on our free-agent tracker. But what makes his signing particularly spicy is that it probably doesn't spell good news for current Saints middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma.
Vilma, as you probably know, was heavily involved in the Saints bounty scandal. The linebacker has yet to receive word from the league as to whether or not he'll face discipline from the league. Lofton's signing likely indicates that New Orleans expects to lose Vilma for some period of time, if not, ahem, indefinitely.
"This can't bode well for current MLB Jonathan Vilma's future with the Saints," Saints Rapid Reporter Larry Holder wrote Saturday. "Vilma is the poster child for bounty scandal and could face a lengthy suspension. Vilma's salary cap number is around $7 million, but the Saints would only save about $3.5 million if they cut Vilma."
It's worth noting, however that Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune says the Saints still consider Vilma a "big part of the team despite" the Lofton signing.
There was some speculation that Lofton could return to the Falcons as a result of the soft linebacker market. But Vilma aside, the Saints made a smart move pouncing on Lofton. He's four years younger than Vilma, and he's been exceptional against the run the last few years.
And, of course, I doubt that the Saints mind taking away an important defensive player from a division rival either.