When the Saints signed middle linebacker Curtis Lofton, it raised questions about what kind of future middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma has in New Orleans.
But for his part, Lofton says he and Vilma can be effective on the field together: Lofton told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he talked to Vilma after signing with the Saints and liked what he heard.
“One thing about me, I don’t have an ego. And I know Jonathan doesn’t have an ego,” Lofton said. “When I was on my visit, they asked, ‘Are you just set on playing middle?’ And I said, ‘No, what I’m set on is winning games and winning championships.’ And Vilma said the same thing. We both just said we want to win. And he said he’s just glad they’re brining in playmakers who can help us win.”
Of course, there are a couple of complications. The first is that Vilma may be suspended for his role in the Saints’ bounty scandal. Given how hard NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell came down on Sean Payton and Gregg Williams, the Saints have to be bracing themselves for a lengthy suspension for Vilma as well, because Vilma is viewed as the most culpable of any Saints players. It may be several games into the season before Vilma and Lofton can get on the field together.
The other complication is that Saints head coach Sean Payton will be suspended for the entire year, and G.M. Mickey Loomis will be suspended for the first eight games of the regular season, and we don’t yet know who the coach and G.M. will be once the regular season gets underway, and whether they’ll want Vilma.
At the moment, however, the Saints think they can make the most of both Lofton’s and Vilma’s talents. And Lofton likes that.