Curtis Lofton fined $15,000 for hit on Colston
Bears running back Kahlil Bell (32) is tackled by Atlanta Falcons defensive end Ray Edwards, right, and linebacker Curtis Lofton (50) the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011. AP
FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons middle linebacker Curtis Lofton was fined by the league for a hit on New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston on Friday.
Lofton was penalized on the second-quarter play for unnecessary roughness. Colston was deemed a defenseless player.
Lofton leads the team with 153 tackles, according to coaches’ film review stats.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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197 comments Add your comment
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
7:24 am
Dude @Tom Matt Ryan is in the top 5 of quarterbacks this year he is having a grerat year.
Saintsfan
December 31st, 2011
7:30 am
While I agree the NFL has become soft with the overuse of the defenseless player rule, I feel I have to clear up a few things. The call that was made on Lofton, which I don’t agree with was hitting a defenseless player in the head or above the shoulders (NFL has gone crazy with this call). Colston did see the guy and had time to duck. The fans calling for the same penalty on the Falcons TE are misinformed. He got hit in the back, which is legal. There was no head to head contact, so there was nothing for the refs to call. Again I disagree with the Lofton call, because Colston had time to duck. The TE doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt because according to the NFL contact below a receiver’s shoulders is legal anytime.
suggs
December 31st, 2011
7:46 am
More of that Katrina refereeing is all this is.
Paddy
December 31st, 2011
7:58 am
The hit on Kelly was legal though it looked bad at the time. Lofton got jobbed on that call. What makes matters worse, he gets a hugh fine for a legal hit. Double whammey!!!!! OK, move on and win some games!
JD
December 31st, 2011
8:24 am
@Saintsfan – Excellent points.
@tom – By ay metric this year, Ryan is having his best statistical season and the team is going to the playoffs. He hasn’t been perfect, still needs to throw a better deep ball and hasn’t quite been a Pro Bowl QB because of Brees/Rodgers/Manning also having fantastic years. However, his command of the offense and his ability to make more plays continues to improve. It’s reasonable to think that if Roddy and Julio make 1 catch (Roddy – TB; Julio – Houston), this team coulda/woulda/shoulda be 11-4 – even with 2 lossess to the Saints.
The Saints are probably the best, most complete team in the league right now. If they hadn’t dumped on that St. Louis game, they’d probably be the #2 seed and most people would pick them for the SB. Now they may have a tough 3-game run to get there.
CGD..
December 31st, 2011
8:36 am
D-Led..I’m gonna help you out…You should start angling toward getting an interview with the owner Arthur Blank..Heads up, big changes are coming for your Elite Falcons…Go ahead and get the scoop before he jettison or guts the whole coaching staff and executives too after another embarrassing loss to the Saints in the wildcard on the road.. Expect nothing special from Ryan again…. He’ll possible throw another pick six..
BECOMING ELITE? HAHAHAHhahahahahahahahahahah heheheheheheheheheheheh
BTW, Cam will throw for 4 thousand yards in his rookie season… Woopie!
CGD..
December 31st, 2011
8:40 am
17th in yards per attempt does not make Elite at all? Duh…………….
CGD..
December 31st, 2011
8:42 am
Ryan is another Romo…bust under pressure!(PLAYOFFS/ BIG STAGE)…Then the staffs and delusional fans cover for em……
Horrible Call
December 31st, 2011
8:50 am
No way that was an illegal hit. Reggie Kelly hit by Saints player WAS an illegal hit. Now we need instant replay for those plays.
Samuel
December 31st, 2011
8:54 am
I thought it was a good hit, the refs missed an encrouchment call and a spearing call on Reggie Kelly. Not to mention the call on Roddy White was petty. Being that said, in prime time and in the Playoffs- the Falcons have to perform on a high level. When the bright lights come on we have to find of way to not make mistakes.
Saints Alive!
December 31st, 2011
9:02 am
This is hilarious! How many of you had the “refs were blowing calls all night” excuse prior to the game. Facts are that the call on Lofton was a legitimate call and I’m sure that the Falcons have benefitted from calls against other teams that were pretty suspect. Guys get fined all the time. As a matter of fact Roman Harper was fined for tackling the quarterback in the Minnesota game. Point is-all teams get calls for and agains during the year and the falcons had no shot of winning this game. Too much to overcome on Monday night and Brees going for a record. Better luck next time!
Frontman
December 31st, 2011
9:08 am
Saints Alive, Roman Harper is dirty. You know it, I know it, the American people know it…
The no-call on the Reggie Kelly hit is all about what the word “defenselelss” means. Most people would say that Kelly was much more defenseless than Colston; if so, then why do we not see a penalty or a fine? Man, since Katrina, the Saints have gotten nothing but love from refs and the NFL.
mad as hello.....
December 31st, 2011
9:14 am
Tom, your statement is about as dumb as they come. Ryan has improved as a QB….however, the league and officials work against him. Getting on the bandwagon, Kelly should sue the league for such an inept call (or lack thereof in his case). He was, according to the definintion, DEFENSELESS!!!
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
9:33 am
Here we go FALCONS!!!!
Falcons at Cowboys-Falcons
Lions at Saints-Lions
Falcons at Niners-Falcons
Lions at Green Bay-Packers
Falcons at Green Gay-Falcons
Thank you for coming..god bless.good nite…Redemption!!!!
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
9:34 am
FALCONS WILL WIN A PLAYOFF GAME THIS YEAR DAMN-IT…
Jamie
December 31st, 2011
9:53 am
Like I said the other day, the NFL takes care of its pretty boys(Packers, Saints and Pats). If you will notice, when there is a questionable call, or NO CALL rather, again these teams, they never show a replay,(i.e our D Lineman getting undressed on the 2nd Brees TD). Get a clue, non believers!
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 31st, 2011
10:01 am
blog monster.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 31st, 2011
10:04 am
YES, its a conspiracy to FIX the games in the Saints favor. The league can affect all games not being played by the Seahawks & Rams…..that’s the only reason the Saints lost to them.
Nothing like a little whine & cheese after a big loss.
Mtn Falcon
December 31st, 2011
10:16 am
What a joke!!! APPEAL THAT. You gotta tackle the guy.
Bamafan
December 31st, 2011
10:17 am
I think the reason the Falcons are playing uninspired football lies in the
fact the NFL and its on-field-officiating crews have let them know they are not going to be fairly considered for winning seasons or post season play.
There are other teams in the same situation.
Lets face it, the NFL has its favorites and will let on-field officials do anything to help them win and look good.
Governor Perry
December 31st, 2011
10:19 am
There are 3 things wrong with the NFL
1. NFL must have Mafia connections.
2. NFL must be managed by the IRS or Republicans.
and OOPS! I cannot remember number 3.
Big Boy
December 31st, 2011
10:20 am
Soon, we will be calling it “Powder Puff Ball”
Governor Perry
December 31st, 2011
10:21 am
Oh yeah, nember 3, maybe they’ ve been threatened by Dominique Wilkins.
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
10:23 am
ITS TIME TO RISE UP!!! Falcon’s Fans have been negative all year long we have to play one Sunday at a time starting with Dallas or N.Y.
SeenThis B4
December 31st, 2011
10:31 am
What a bunch of sore losers….the Saints had 46 yards in penalities, and your team had 57 yards in penalities…a difference of 11 yards, you lost by 29! Lofton may have turned his head, but it was to save his own neck, he still made helmet to helmet contact, and the ref has less than a fraction of second to make the call. The hit on kelly was legal, just as the sack on Brees by his neck was legal. There’s just a bunch of sore losers in Atl, especially the biggest baby whiner, SawThat1nce: to which I say: Ah, ha, ha, ha ha,ha!
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
10:32 am
Come on PACKERS TOMORROW BEAT THE LIONS..LOL
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
10:34 am
@SeenThisB4 do you think the Saints can beat us 4 times in a row? I think you guys should be worried I don’t see you winning again!
@seenthisbfalcon
December 31st, 2011
10:38 am
Your delusion with your team is funny….rise up…rise up…I can hear Samuel Jackson on that stupid commercial now…the sequel…Fall Down….that is all the FAILCANTS can do…I bet you wake up every morning cursing Drew Brees, Sean Payton and the entire Saints organization for their class, winning ways and SB championship….must be sad to be a Failcant fan….
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
10:40 am
Its just too bad I actually hope the AIN’Ts have to play Detroit I can see an upset in the making go Packers play to win tomorrow it will do all of us a big favor and get rid of those meesley AINT’s…
@seenthisbfalcon
December 31st, 2011
10:41 am
No way the FAILCANTS will beat anyone in the playoffs…fact….one and done…..rise up, rise up…..??? Falcons = Fans Always Leave Counting On Next Season….
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
10:46 am
No actually not your only one Superbowl win up on us…the AINT’S have been like the Falcons recently just starting to have success in the past couple of yr’s. Your Superbowl run wasn’t a dominant one..just a lucky one….
Jimbo
December 31st, 2011
10:47 am
NFL becoming like Nascar will surely equal less fans. I haven’t watched a Nascar race in five years and I afraid that’s where the NFL is headed. Stop the B.S. and play the game the way it was meant to be played. The players know what they are getting into and they are payed well.
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
10:48 am
@SEENTHIS B4 well shall see next week I hope you don’t have to play Detroit cause Dree Breezy will be on his Backeezy….Lions 37-Ain’ts 31
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
10:53 am
This is why we play the games all season…it doesn’t matter what you did in the regular season the playoffs is a new season..win or go home…have on off day Green Bay or New Orleans..a couple of turnovers and your out….one thing the FALCONS have is the talent to get it done…they just need to play with passion and heart, guts which ya @SeenThis B4 they havn’t done all year…they laid dont to the SAINTS in New Orleans but we’ll be ready to play if we meet again….
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
10:54 am
RISE UP!!!!
david
December 31st, 2011
11:08 am
Holding, hands to face, pass interferience, unnecessary roughness, these are all flags that were thrown at us…………….but when the saints did it, and they did, it was not called. I noticed that here at home too. The saints are dirty players, the saints fans, they are rude. If we showed our butts like they did in our dome, there would be a brawl. I am just happy in knowing that every saints fan still has a paper bag in their back pocket ready to wear it. I hope they get blown out of playoffs and i hope it is the Falcons that do it.
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
11:13 am
REDEMPTION FOR THE FALCONS!!!!
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 31st, 2011
11:13 am
The Falcons have given me no reason to think they will beat anyone in the playoffs….let alone the Saints. I don’t care if we have to beat them 4 times or 6 times in a row. Both teams know each other very well but only one team has a lions share of the wins. I love my chances against the Falcons…come back to the N.O. …please.
The Lions are more of a threat because we don’t know them as well and they have a stout defensive line that may be able to get pressure on Drew. However, we are running the ball very well and they are susceptible to the run. I welcome both of these Wildcard teams to try their luck.
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 31st, 2011
11:17 am
david your venom is correctly placed at all that is New Orleans. Yes, let your disdain flow into your posts so that you may release the venom. It is better to vent here than to kick Fido or be miserable to your family. However, know that Matty Ice will bring nothing but more angst and pain to you. Now is the time to get on another teams bandwagon…..I hear the Panthers have plenty of room on theirs.
Ouch!
December 31st, 2011
11:19 am
That’s gonna leave a mark….
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 31st, 2011
11:21 am
Guys, more “fixed” games are coming…more “penalties” called just against the Falcons. The football gods are taking back all of the good karma they spread on you last season.
How many games did you snatch from the jaws of defeat last year? How many nail biters did you squeak into the victory column? Don’t rise up……WAKE UP!!! YOU WERE NEVER AS GOOD AS YOUR RECORD!!!
blah,blah, blah,blah, blah
December 31st, 2011
11:23 am
Nobody cares about Saints REAM’s analysis of Falcons. Especially the Falcons.
blah,blah, blah,blah, blah
December 31st, 2011
11:25 am
Did Peppermint Patty’s teacher enter the blog under Saints REAM?
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
11:26 am
SAINTS R.E.A.M
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 31st, 2011
11:28 am
No one likes the TRUTH….especially the Falcons. Its better to believe through smoke and mirrors that they have a real contender….and a real Franchise QB. Propping up Matt Ryan as the local “hero” ain’t gonna help. He is an Elite backup QB. Same as Matt Schaub…you’ll see in another 4 years or so when you are still waiting for a deep playoff run.
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
11:28 am
I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW AND NXT WEEK GO GREEN BAY TOMORROW AND LIONS NXT WK I’M ABOUT SICK OF THIS AIN’T TROLLS SEND THEM BACK TO LUCKY CHARM LAND..SO THEY CAN GO FISHING IN IRELAND…
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
11:30 am
ALL I WANT FOR XMAS IS THE LIONS TO BEAT THE AIN’TS NXT WEEK!!!
SeenThisBFalcon
December 31st, 2011
11:33 am
I’m happy long as the AIN’TS lose…RISE UP!!! Oh ya don’t get hurt tomorrow Dree you still have the Panthers to worry about…
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 31st, 2011
11:33 am
Seenthisbfalcon…..why don’t you guys come down and do it yourself? Why send a Lion to do a Falcon’s job? lol.
CDOG
December 31st, 2011
11:40 am
yes sawthat1nce, you’re right.ever since the katrina desaster, the league has been pampering the saints franchise.i have said this all along.the last years, there’s been cheating for the saints.