Lofa Tatupu wants to get back into the NFL, and at least one team is interested in his services.
Tatupu, a free agent linebacker who sat out the entire 2011 season, visited the Saints on Monday, Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reports.
The demise of Tatupu’s career has been a surprising story: He was drafted by the Seahawks in 2005 and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons, and at one point he looked like one of the most promising young players in the NFL. But in 2008 his play started to decline and he was arrested for drunk driving, in 2009 he missed 11 games with a torn pectoral muscle, and in 2010 he returned to play all 16 games but didn’t look like the same player.
Shortly after the lockout ended Tatupu asked for and received his release, and he never surfaced anywhere during the 2011 season, amid reports that he was dealing with a knee injury. It’s been several months since we’ve even mentioned Tatupu’s name.
But if the 29-year-old Tatupu is healthy and focused on football, he could be a good addition to some defense. The Saints think he’s at least worth a look.