Former Falcons middle linebacker Curtis Lofton seemed to have been pricing himself out of the free-agency market.
With Detroit re-signing Stephen Tulloch to a five-year contract, Lofton was the biggest named linebacker still out on the market until agreeing to terms Saturday night on a five-year contract with the Saints.
Both David Hawthorne and Lofton had visited the New Orleans Saints over the previous weekend. Lofton also had interest from Tampa Bay.
Lofton went out to dinner on Sunday night March 18 with New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, head coach Sean Payton, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and linebackers coach Joe Vitt. He met with the coaches on Monday to talk a little football.
Hawthorne met with the Saints on Saturday and early Sunday.
The linebacker market was set early in free agency when San Francisco signed linebacker Ahmad Brooks to a six-year, $44.5 million contract with $17.5 million of it guaranteed and Cleveland signed linebacker D'Qwell Jackson to a five-year contract worth $42.5 million. A total of $19 million is guaranteed. But teams wouldn't go that high for other players.
The numbers for Tulloch's deal were $25 million over five years with $11 million guaranteed.
The Falcons held talks with Lofton's representatives at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Those talks were termed as amicable, but the team elected to move in another direction.
Lofton has played 95, 95 and 99 percent of the defensive snaps over the last three years. Lofton, the team's leading tackler over the past four seasons, was drafted in the second round of the 2008 draft. He had 577 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and seven forced fumbles.
As things stand, the Falcons will attempt to replace Lofton with Lofa Tatupu, 29, a three-time Pro Bowler who did not play last season. Also, Akeem Dent will get a chance to win playing time. The Falcons continue to talk to Lofton's camp and have described those talks as productive.
It's possible that Lofton may have priced himself out of the market and may have to return to the Falcons for a year and then take another shot at free agency next offseason because most of the money is drying up.
Greg Cosell of NFL films said of Lofton, "I think he's a guy who does everything well and nothing spectacular. He's a very solid, consistent player week after week, snap after snap."
That's a problem. If teams are paying you $8 million per year they want more than steady play. They want to see those spectacular plays that Cosell doesn't see.
"I think Lofton is a complete player, just not a spectacular player," Cosell said.
Lofton may have to readjust his expectations much like defensive end John Abraham did. He was looking for something in the $12 million per year range before settling for a three-year deal that averages $7 million.
For most of his first four seasons, Lofton was considered one of the cornerstones of the defense. Clearly, something has changed.
NOTES, QUOTES
-Montana cornerback Trumaine Johnson was a rare four-year starter (45 starts) and with his lanky and lithe frame, he had a school-record 36 pass deflections and 15 interceptions.
The Falcons, who are probing to improve their pass defense, have heavily scouted the Montana program under general manager Thomas Dimitroff. The Falcons drafted defensive end Kroy Biermann in the fifth round of the 2008 draft and added safety Shann Schillinger in the sixth round of the 2010 draft from Montana.
Johnson (6-2, 204), because of his intriguing skill set and ability to play multiple positions, could be the third Montana player to join the Falcons since 2008.
"I'll go anywhere," Johnson said. "I played in Montana. ... I'll play anywhere."
-The Falcons placed the franchise tag on cornerback Brent Grimes and hope to sign him to a long-term contract.
Grimes, who made the team after not getting drafted and being discovered by former Falcons scout Bruce Plummer, wants to land a long-term deal. He made $2.63 million last season.
"Our feeling is that Brent Grimes is an excellent athlete who can move, cover and break on the ball with some of the top corners in this league, Dimitroff said. "We feel comfortable with his abilities and the way that he's picked up our system and has settled in nicely over the last few years."
QUOTE TO NOTE
"He was a great friend of sports across America. He was a great friend of Atlanta. He represented the finest in the industry, being a reporter and always speaking his mind. I didn't always agree with what he said, but I always read his column. He always set the benchmark on whatever he was covering. ... He wrote beautifully. He was a great guy to be around. He has a lovely family. ... He always had a nice pace in his step. I always enjoyed being with him. I always felt like I learned a lot from him and I enjoyed hearing his stories and tales." -- Falcons owner Arthur Blank on the passing of sports writing legend Furman Bisher, who passed away recently at the age of 93.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Linebacker Lofa Tatupu, 29, a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro, was so spectacular in his workout that the Falcons are expecting him to return to the form of his younger days after sitting out last season.
He's fully healed from his knee woes and has retained his speed.
He will compete with second-year man Akeem Dent for the starting spot. The Falcons could use Dent in running situations and Tatupu on third downs.
The Falcons were ranked 29th in the NFL in third-down defense last season. Tatupu has 10 career interceptions, but also has a history of knee and concussion problems. He did not play in the league last season.
TEAM NEEDS
1. Defensive end/linebacker: The Falcons are revamping how they have been playing pass defense. They need more players who can rush the quarterback or hold their own while dropping into coverage. Since they've been quiet in free agency, it's pretty clear this is the direction they must take in the draft. Players like Marshall's Vinny Curry could be intriguing to them.
2. Tight end: Tony Gonzalez has signed up for another year and the Falcons don't appear to have his replacement on the roster. The team has heavily scouted this position. They have looked at Missouri's Michael Egnew, Stanford's Coby Fleener, Georgia's Orson Charles and are reportedly intrigued by Louisiana-Lafayette'd Ladarius Green, a lanky flex tight end with speed.
3. Quarterback: Backup quarterback Chris Redman is 35 and signed on for one more year. They could use one of their later round picks to bring in a quarterback who'll eventually become Redman's successor.
