Hardball With Curtis Lofton
March 15th, 2012
The Bucs might have overpaid for cornerback Eric Wright, but it seems the team has drawn a line in the sand for ex-Falcons middle linebacker Curtis Lofton, a run-stuffer young free agent that would seem to be a stout fit at middle linebacker.
NFL Network and NFL.com insider Jason La Canfora is Twittering that the Bucs have offered Lofton a satchel of cash but he’s still shopping around.
@JasonLaCanfora Curtis Lofton will visit Saints this weekend. Tampa submitted an offer. NO also brought in David Hawthorne for visit
Joe can’t believe the nerve of Lofton. Can’t he see the Bucs are big spenders in the NFL? Isn’t it apparent that rockstar general manager Mark Dominik came to the free-agent party with gobs of Benjamins? Does Lofton really believe the Bucs, of all teams, are throwing him a lowball offer almost right out of the gate of free agency?
This is 2012, baby, as Dick Vitale might say.
Perhaps this Lofton isn’t smart enough to pick up Greg Schiano’s new defense if he’s not sharp enough to realize the Bucs probably gave him a sweet deal in the new free-agency-is-glorious era.
March 15th, 2012 at 8:33 pm
I hope they can get this deal done. We desperately need some LB help.
March 15th, 2012 at 8:37 pm
Great article Joe. It was a long time ago, but do you all remember when the Bucs were considered cheap? Obviously Lofton doesn’t know how we roll.
March 15th, 2012 at 8:39 pm
Tampa,Phily and now New Orleans….I think we get him.He won’t get more money in N.O.I don’t think he will get the 9 mill he wants.
March 15th, 2012 at 8:43 pm
As bad as it sounds we need to sign him or Tulloch…. This defense needs a smart strong MLB
March 15th, 2012 at 8:50 pm
No need to overpay for this guy. I’ve never been overly impressed with him, but Lofton in the middle and Foster moving to the outside would certainly be an upgrade over what we had last year.
March 15th, 2012 at 8:59 pm
O ya this greedy SOB will be running back to us to sign our offer once the saints insult him saying hes not worth what he wants and they’ll offer him a little contract not 9 mil. AND WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE PLAYERS WOULD LOOK AT US DIFFERENTLY NOW THAT WERE SPENDERS THIS GREEDY GUY DOESNT WANT TO COME HERE!
March 15th, 2012 at 8:59 pm
I love the fact that Joseph, Koenen, and GMC are openly recruiting him. Koenen’s last tweet to Lofton was priceless: “@CurtisLofton50 needs to be a Buc! Come to Tampa my Dude! Join our stud LBs and Dominate! Come if you want a shinny ring soon that is;) #TBA”
March 15th, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Lofton didn’t even have an interception last year till…..he faced our horrible offense that allowed 42 first half points in the final game….where he had two interceptions.
He’s ok, but he’s way overpriced. I’d rather have Fletcher and still draft a linebacker high.
March 15th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
*offense “allowed” basically by throwing tons of interceptions…..one or two being pick 6’s i think
March 15th, 2012 at 9:08 pm
The Falcons are getting worse this offseason and were getting better this offseason there losing two key pieces to there already sh!t defence in Abraham and Lofton and they haven’t had any FAs visit them or anything with our new beefed up Offense we can easily beat them now
Josh Freeman=Matt Ryan
Lagarrette Blount=Michael Turner
Vincent Jackson=Roddy White
We match up with them now
March 15th, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Manning signed with Tennessee.
March 15th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
I live north of Atlanta, I would take a deduction just to play somewhere else. That dome had more Bucs fans than Falcons when I went to the games before the Vick era.
March 15th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Lofton is holding out because of the monster contracts other free agent linebackers have gotten so far. Give it a day and he will come around, after he figures out none of the leftover LB’s are going to command high dollar money.
It’d be great to snatch two good players from division teams this offseason though. Make it happen Mark!
March 15th, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Lofton is just doing his business ,but should realize the $$$ is not endless.If told Tolbert or okoye were ready, we would go for them and deal with LB in draft,NO has mays in today and hawthorne tomorrow,Hawthorne is who they want so It might be done tomorrow.Tulloch wants less and would be better IMO
March 15th, 2012 at 9:34 pm
Eff Lofton. We don’t need a limited athlete playing MLB for us. Atlanta gets scorched by good passing teams for a reason and he’s a big part of it. Luke Kuechly has way more upside and would lock down the middle for the next 10-15 seasons while if we signed Lofton we’d be looking to upgrade in 2 years.
I’d rather pick up Fletcher for two seasons, draft Kuechly, and watch our D dominate again. Kuechly is a freaking stud, Lofton is a dud.
March 15th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Lofton or his agent aren’t being smart. They’re going to end up over valuing their worth and then have to come with their tails tucked in and hope they can get something. Everyone know NO is strapped and every time they sign someone it’s just pissing Bree’s off more and more. Their GM, Loomis is really playing with fire. One of Loftons friends need to slap him in his face and tell him to wake up and tell him every day he holds off is costing him money. Personally I hope the Bucs sign Tulloch and Lofton has to settle for a contract much less than he was offered. The dude is just it smart so maybe it’s a blessing in disguise that we end up with a smarter LB.
March 15th, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Wow. As an original Bucs fan, I’m still in shock with yesterday’s spending spree. Nevertheless, the Bucs need at least 2 LBs, one in free agency and another one or two in the draft. I hear the brother of EJ Henderson in Minnesota is up and coming. We need to go heavy on defense in the draft. We need depth. I also believe the vastly improved coaching staff will make a big difference in the level of play. I doubt we’ll see the rampant loafing and quitting that defined last year.Fans now have a reason to look forward to the upcoming season.
March 15th, 2012 at 9:44 pm
I don’t mind what Loften is doing.It is a business after all.I want to know why Atlanta is not trying to keep him more.
March 15th, 2012 at 9:44 pm
There is nothing wrong with what Lofton is doing, to be honest. Why wouldn’t he look around and take the best deal? Every single one of us would do the exact same thing. If you are an NFL player and have an extremely short career (statistically speaking), then you should absolutely try to make as much money as you possibly can. If you can get some dumb team to overpay for you, then go for it. Anybody here gonna try and tell me that they wouldn’t want to be over payed at their job?
March 15th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
I really hope we land a veteran MLB!
I think by acquiring Wright (Talib isn’t going anywhere this year, unless he loses his case in Texas), a veteran MLB, and if our young DT’s come in 100% and can stay healthy, our defense will be much improved. An actual game plan that allows gang tackling will help and hopefully this coaching staff can deliver.
Our offense reminds me of the 90’s Cowboy teams. We have our franchise QB, franchise WR, big OL, pass catching TE, complimentary WR’s. Now we need to draft our franchise RB Trent Richardson at #5.
We could have dynasty in the making. Then again we could have the Lions of just a few years ago. Who knows but I’ll tell you this . I haven’t been this excited about Bucs football since the ticket price increase of nearly 30 % and the product on the field didn’t merit that increase. I had to cancel my season tickets and spend my entertainment dollars elsewhere. I actually thinking about taking a part time job to get season tickets again.
March 15th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
I am over payed…
March 15th, 2012 at 9:51 pm
I really hope we land a veteran MLB!
I think by acquiring Wright (Talib isn’t going anywhere this year, unless he loses his case in Texas), a veteran MLB, and if our young DT’s come in 100% and can stay healthy, our defense will be much improved. An actual game plan that allows gang tackling will help and hopefully this coaching staff can deliver.
Our offense reminds me of the 90’s Cowboy teams. We have our franchise QB, franchise WR, big OL, pass catching TE, complimentary WR’s. Now we need to draft our franchise RB Trent Richardson at #5.
We could have dynasty in the making. Then again we could have the Lions of just a few years ago. Who knows but I’ll tell you this. I haven’t been this excited about Bucs football since my season ticket price increase when my seat license expired in 2008 and the product on the field didn’t merit that increase. I had to cancel my season tickets and spend my entertainment dollars elsewhere. I’m seriously considering taking a part time job to get season tickets again.
March 15th, 2012 at 9:52 pm
If we didn’t get that Qb we could have gave him more money lol.
March 15th, 2012 at 9:52 pm
Remember the Cody Grimm 7th round holdout? lol
March 15th, 2012 at 9:54 pm
Sorry for the double post. Cell phone issues, I need a homer Simpson dialing wand for this thing.
March 15th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
@raphael,
LOL. I need your job!!!
March 15th, 2012 at 10:09 pm
LOL
March 15th, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Sign him!
March 15th, 2012 at 10:20 pm
He better be smart and sign with us!! and then we can draft Trent Richardson at 5!!! ALL ABOARD THE TRENT RICHARDSON TRAIN!
March 15th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
^^^^^ What he said
March 15th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
@Raphael…
Too effin’ funny LOL….
Always said Tulloch was less of a talker, punk….than Lofton. Maybe trade down, Kuechly at #12…
March 15th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
@Brandon I want Kuechly regardless of whether we sign Lofton or not. LB is still our biggest need even if we add 1 in FA.
SAM – Foster
MIKE – Lofton/Tulloch
WILL – Kuechly
That’s an ideal, physical young LB corps.
March 15th, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Time for Mark “Danny Snyder” Dominik to correct drafting mistakes and get more fools gold for the fantasy team!
A whole lotta more!
March 15th, 2012 at 10:35 pm
Man I hope they sign Lofton, mainly because I would love to see what Foster can do on the outside while having a good MLB.
March 15th, 2012 at 10:36 pm
Lofton knows he is wanted here in Tampa, he (and me) thought he should have been a part of the press conference yesterday. But I don’t blame him for seeing what he can get elsewhere, I do hope we get a vet MLB, tough position to learn without a teacher, see mason foster, but thats how McKay and Dungy used to do it, if someone left, they already had an understudy.
March 15th, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Eric,
His name is the Rock Star!
March 15th, 2012 at 10:40 pm
Maybe he’s trying to get in on some of that bounty money.
March 15th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
@Brain I agree
SAM – Foster
MIKE – Lofton/Tulloch
WILL – Kuechly
Would be AWSOME!
March 15th, 2012 at 10:47 pm
Curtis Lofton is not worth a mega contract, that’s for sure. I think we can find that same kind of player anywhere in the first three rounds. I would take him, but not at anywhere close to what we’ve been paying players so far.
March 15th, 2012 at 10:47 pm
Definitely can’t blame Lofton for trying to get as much as he can, I’m sure Nicks, VJax, and Wright’s final $’s were higher than the teams initial offer. Nice thing is there are 3-4 quality MLB’s out there in Lofton, Tulloch, Hawthorne, and Fletcher.
On a side note, when Dominik referred to Wright as “my guy” I got shudders. Immediately thought of his “other” guys Black & Clayton. Hoping he’s right on this one.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:07 pm
@hawaiian,
with the recent moves I am starting to believe it!
March 15th, 2012 at 11:13 pm
if he thinks he can do better let him go there..
March 15th, 2012 at 11:21 pm
WILL – Kuechly
A few people mentioned that.
1. ONLY if they trade down
and
2. I thought the whole point of Kuechly was his intellignce to be the MLB, not a WILL?
Regardless, there is no doubt that they take a CB, RB, and LB in the first 3 rounds.
BUT, seeing what has happened the last 3 years mayb they go CB, CB in the first 2…. would not be surprised
March 15th, 2012 at 11:24 pm
E.J. Henderson would a be good MLB for the Bucs unless he has already re-signed with Minnesota…
March 15th, 2012 at 11:25 pm
I agree that picking up a veteran MLB is important and I would also like to see Dom reach to pick one up now, after all that is the QB of the defense.
Brian…the only problem wit Kuechly is that he is going in the mid to late first round, so we have no chance at him unless we move back.
We have a better shot at landing the LB from North Carolina…Zach Brown i think is his name.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:43 pm
The Bucs might get a good LB in the draft. If the guy doesn’t want to come here then we really don’t need him, but if he’s shopping its a little different story, provided Dom still leaves the offer on the table. Sometimes its take it or leave it, and Loften may be out of the picture. I never thought the guy was that great when we played them. Good, not great, not worth overpaying for.
I have been caught up in the FA frenzy too, and maybe it is time look a little closer. Nicks and Jackson were no-brainers, top of the charts guys. Loften isn’t in the same class as those guys, but they need LB help, at a fair market price which I’m sure Dom offerered. You can tell the Bucs weren’t going to miss out (this time) because of money. Loften’s head may very well be up his @$$.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:43 pm
@ Kevin.
Love that tweet. 1. What Stud LBs ? If we had them we would not need him.
2. Why would he even listen to GMC ? This guy can’t stay on the field long enough to show anything. If Lofton thinks he should be the highest paid defender in the NFL it’s not going to happen. Let him stay unemployed.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:44 pm
@Eric,
Me too.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:46 pm
At least Lofton knows he’ll never win a Superbowl in Atlanta. Haha.
March 16th, 2012 at 12:57 am
Lofton needs to sign !! Also I’d be happy if we draft claiborne or Richardson
March 16th, 2012 at 7:50 am
@BucFan20
Yeah, I agree with the skepticism regarding the “stud LB” comments… but he’s a teammate. What is he going to say? “Our LB corp sucks, we really need help!!!” He obviously can’t say that.
re: GMC. Don’t forget that GMC, DJ, MK, and Moises Madu are all former teammates of Lofton at either Oklahoma or the Falcons.