Atlanta Falcons: Lofa Tatupu out for the season
060612 FLOWERY BRANCH : Falcons linebacker Lofa Tatupu stretches for team practice at Flowery Branch on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
On a day when the Falcons’ fans received their season tickets, they also got some bitter news.
Former Pro Bowl linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who was trying to make a comeback after sitting out last season, had pectoral surgery Tuesday that will knock him out for the 2012 season, according to head coach Mike Smith.
With the Falcons looking to replace leading tackler Curtis Lofton, Tatupu and Akeem Dent worked out with the first-team defense during the offseason.
Tatupu suffered the injury Thursday in the weight room and went to specialist Dr. James Andrews on Monday.
“We got a second opinion,” Smith said. “The second opinion confirmed the first opinion. He had a procedure done today and he will be out of the season.”
In other injury news, Falcons linebacker Stephen Nicholas (big toe) and offensive tackle Lamar Holmes (foot) have been cleared for training camp as the players are set to report Wednesday. While starting defensive tackle Corey Peters (foot) has not been medically cleared.
“[Peters] will have a follow up physical in about three weeks,” Smith said. “Corey is not going to be participating in training camp. We should have some more clarity in a few weeks.”
Tatupu signed to a two-year, $3.6 million contract in March. He received a guaranteed $600,000 signing bonus and had a $1.25 million playing time escalator clause in his contract.
Tatupu, 29, a three-time Pro Bowler, didn’t play in 2011 after spending six seasons with Seattle. He was a first-team All-Pro selection after the 2007 season. He contemplated retirement, but elected to give it another try with the Falcons.
In light of the injury, the Falcons are not sure if Tatupu plans to retire.
“Lofa just had the procedure done,” Smith said. “I haven’t had a conversation with him. We just want Lofa to get as healthy as he can. Right now, I’m sure that’s probably the farthest thing from his mind.”
On Monday, the Falcons signed veteran linebacker Mike Peterson, who can play all three linebacker positions and help Dent get ready for the season.
“Mike Peterson gives us some flexibility,” Smith said. “Last year, we drafted Dent as a middle linebacker. Now, he has the opportunity to grab that position.”
Peterson, 36, was a starter in 2009 and 2010 before shifting to a reserve role last season. He received a $50,000 signing bonus and a base salary of $910,000 in 2011. He was not tendered an offer, when his contract expired on March 13.
In 2011, he started five games and played in 15 before going on injured reserve with a torn triceps that required surgery.
Lofton, who led the Falcons in tackles with 159 last season, signed with the New Orleans Saints during free agency.
His departure left a hole in the middle of the defense.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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152 comments Add your comment
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 24th, 2012
11:41 pm
RAM265 — There is no cap room moves to make. Akeem Dent was drafted for this spot. Lofa was a luxury item that didn’t work out.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 24th, 2012
11:42 pm
C’mon maan!– Again, when they drafted Dent you knew they weren’t overpaying for Lofton. Lofa was a luxury item. A cheap one at $600,000 guaranteed (spread out over two years).
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 24th, 2012
11:43 pm
Falcons: Play 60! – Yeah, that’s a good deal for Lofa, but it doesn’t kill you on the cap.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 24th, 2012
11:46 pm
First time Season Tix Holder – There are only 10 games! What’s your point? You thought you get the 10 road games, too?
papa bear
July 24th, 2012
11:49 pm
Sorry D.Orlando,if wishing and hope,were DNA strains for championship,I alone would have had the Falcons at least 5 rings on there fingers by now.
JSS
July 24th, 2012
11:59 pm
!t’s “dead money!” Dude, you’re taking a hit on a player who will not see the field? His guarantee counts against the cap eventually! When other dead money contracts leave the books. Where was anyone wrong? They (the Falcons) are “against the cap.” You’re still paying dead money to folks like Jenkins, Ovie, Jamal Anderson, and Chauncey Davis… And what happens if Dent or Peterson goes down? You push the figure back a year or two, but it eventually comes home to roost… What don’t you get about that fact?
Let’s see, you’re also bringing in another veteran at a single year minimum (if he sticks), there’s a loophole there (that doesn’t count, not a top 51 contract)… Oh, and he ended last year on the IR too!! Tatapu was two years, not the loophole…
myrak43
July 25th, 2012
12:09 am
could we bring in one of E.J. Henderson, James Farrior, or Keith Brookings. Farrior and Brookings are a little long in the tooth, but would be good to help bring Dent along. Henderson and Dent would be a good one two punch. with Henderson on 1st downs, Dent on 3rd downs and they split time on 2nd down situations.
Imjustsayin
July 25th, 2012
12:41 am
How many times do we have to get burned before Dimitroff stops choosing guys who have a history of injuries or are coming off of an injury. (see Pereia Jerry, Ray Edwards, Lamar Holmes, Sam Baker, Tatupu, .. and the list goes on). He seems to be infatuated with these type of guys.
P B Orr
July 25th, 2012
12:56 am
D-Led, can Dent get it done as a starter? How fast is he? Does he hit hard? He seems to be a good tackler.
Connor
July 25th, 2012
1:25 am
JSS, i dont think you understand the new cap rules… lol
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JSS
July 25th, 2012
4:52 am
Connor, that is the new cap rule… The one intended to keep more vets playing instead of being dumped…. Dead money did not go away… Have you looked at the 2012 Falcons salaries? Do you understand “hard cap implications?” This isn’t the NBA with amnesty clauses, the new CBA punishes you for throwing bonus and guarantee money around unless you “account” for it in “ledger pain…” Contract termination is a fact of life. The difference is ledger and the “cap,” it is a reporting matter…
You have to decide when you want to feel the pain… The Steelers decided to do it this year… Spend less time in “like think” and visit the sites and blogs of the rest of the league like Steelers Depot (the Math of Khan blog from February)… There is whole lot less name calling, and whole lot more explaining and understanding…
JSS
July 25th, 2012
5:19 am
Point…
Signing a player with a history of injuries was as Ledbetter put it: “a luxury.”
Further point…
When you do that and it fails, you’re limited to signing someone for one season like Peterson or Hayden and Sanders last year… It is a calculated risk for team with questionable defensive depth… Look at Hayden, spent his entire time here hurt… Peterson tore his pec, and you had count on Robert James in the playoff game… Moore gets himself nicked up in Met Life and Sanders in on the field… That was a war of attriction! You’re setting yourself up for that type of scenario again but in your linebacking corp… $600,000 may be cheap on the ledger, but it is expensive in depth… Pssssst, all of that OTA and mini-camp indoctrination was wasted too…
THE INFAMOUS DK
July 25th, 2012
8:34 am
Actually this will work.. Dent is good. I think he will come right along like Spoon did.. Watch. He was an animal at UGA. This kid aint a pushover by any stretch of the imagination.
Statick
July 25th, 2012
8:37 am
D-Led said: — They drafted Akeem Dent to take Lofton’s spot (check knees).
Of course they did. How come nobody remembers this besides me? Lofton’s knees were getting worse every season. It’s especially noticeable as the season progresses and in pass coverage. It’s only a matter of time before he’s out of the league.
THE INFAMOUS DK
July 25th, 2012
8:41 am
Lofton is mud in my eyes.. This dude needed to lose weight here but goes to NO and loses weight and comes in camp in top form.. I cant wait till we abuse him over the middle with Quizz of all people..
Falcon Lover
July 25th, 2012
8:43 am
Call Jessie Tuggle!!!
Big Mike
July 25th, 2012
8:46 am
In light of this setback, now is not the time to discuss the efficacy of Mr. Dimitroff’s personnel decisions. To do so would be an insult to Falcon fans.
Mikefalcon63
July 25th, 2012
9:00 am
Saints R.E.A.M.
True or False – The Aints feared playing against a pro bowler in Curtis Lofton. (The answer is FALSE). Do I think anyone can replace a run stuffing linebacker with bad knees? No, but I do think there are enough linebackers out there who can. Lofton is not your Vilma. Plain and simple. He may not even make it through the season. The guy has had 3 knee procedures at a young age. Statistics don’t lie… He WILL have at least 3 more before his career is over.
Saints R.E.A.M.
July 25th, 2012
9:16 am
Mikefalcon, Adrian Peterson has had multiple knee procedures at a young age too. Would you take him instead of Turner?? Sure, you may lose a step over time but medical technology goes a long way to piecing players back together. Take Willis McGahee for example….his knee was tattered….and he’s had a long career.
Point is, Lofton is now motivated to stick it to the Falcons…he’s in shape and ready to go.
Point is also, that you have young players, in new coaching schemes on BOTH sides of the ball. And now you have lost a key experienced player that could give you some options at LB. If you say it won’t matter, then fine…we can wait and see the games. Can we agree that a 4-4 start would equal a failure for improving your team???
observer
July 25th, 2012
9:18 am
If the Falcons have to play Dent and Peterson at MLB their defense is in serious trouble.
Atlanta Falcons Ill-fated Gamble on Lofa Tatupu Over Before it Started | Daily World News
July 25th, 2012
9:22 am
[...] will miss the entire 2012 season because of a pectoral muscle injury that required surgery. This latest [...]
Saints R.E.A.M.
July 25th, 2012
9:41 am
“Now it’s clear that Atlanta’s failure to adequately prepare for Lofton’s departure now will come back to haunt the franchise.” – Robert Neely -
Just Sayin.....
July 25th, 2012
10:07 am
@Ledbetter……
We don’t even have to go back 42 years. Lets go back to 1998 (Superbowl), 2002 (Playoff win), 2004 (Championship game). I’m quite sure the Saints were not comparing the past when they won their 1st Superbowl.
Now the problem being is not with the Falcons past in comparison, it is the present and future that is in comparison. You need look no further than in Baltimore. In the same 2008 – Present the Ravens have made it to 2 championship games, 5 playoffs, and zero 1 & dones. The Falcons have 3 straight 1 & dones.
Now if you call this 2008 Falcons regime employment secure if they don’t get it done this year, then you are very delusional or bias.
Just Sayin.....
July 25th, 2012
10:08 am
That’s 5 playoff wins not playoffs.
Just Sayin.....
July 25th, 2012
10:16 am
Its clear that Dimitroff is no Ossie Newsome. That’s why Newsome is a top tier talent assessment man. Now we see why New England wasn’t losing any sleep when Dimitroff walked.
Matthew
July 25th, 2012
10:20 am
My good money is on Jerrell Harris from Alabama. I think the guy makes a big impact on special teams and climbs the ladder like Dent.
For some reason, those Alabama linebackers are just playmakers.
Just Sayin.....
July 25th, 2012
10:21 am
So what’s the plan for the aging veterans? Gonzalez says this is his last year. Remember that 2nd round pick that was given away for him. That same draft could have landed Pettigrew – the tight end of the future.
Abe last seen his greatest days…….Turner has been burned out.
Those wasted picks for Gonzalez, Julio and injury prone playerss will come back home to roost.
Hamad Meander
July 25th, 2012
10:48 am
That’s a real shame about Tatupo, but I guess it wasn’t unexpected. I like Matthew’s idea about Jerrill Harris moving into that role. The dude was lost on Alabama’s three deep linebacker depth chart, but has more physical talent than the average linebacker that was drafted. He can be groomed into the middle linebacker position.
Remember – we aren’t going to have a probowler at every position, but we can at least have solid players with some upside.
North FLA Falcon
July 25th, 2012
10:58 am
There is NO EXCUSE for a professional to rip his pec. This was a guy who was out of shape and trying too hard to get HUGE instead of lifting SMART. A tough situation since we are already thin at LB. Dent now has a golden opportunity so he needs to step it up.
TDnoclue
July 25th, 2012
11:11 am
Typical TD move. He loves injury prone players. TD has no clue!!
Real falcon fan
July 25th, 2012
11:20 am
All you tech nerds that are screaming to bring back Keith brooking. We don’t need any more nerds on the team. Brooking was a loser at tech (never could beat uga). Hines ward was his man in his last home game. He could not cover his mouth then and he surely can not cover anyone now. You do not hear every uga fan scream for Hines ward every time a falcon receiver is injured. Although, Hines is much more nfl ready than brooking., all the dawg fans are not hollering for him.
You nerds need to just think back to brookings last game w the falcons, he cost us the playoff game. Too slow 4 years ago, too slow now! NO MORE NERDS!
Ivan
July 25th, 2012
11:25 am
Lofton and the Saints will be laughing their way to the playoffs.
The injury bug is already hitting the Falcons. Combine that with new coordinators and practically no change on the weak O-line more than likely means an 8-8 season at best.
JAYCOOL
July 25th, 2012
11:36 am
Ivan the Saints wont be laughing when it’s 3rd and 20 and the pass goes to the TE for a first down.
Just Sayin.....
July 25th, 2012
11:42 am
The big question will be this…………………
If the Falcons don’t get it done for the 5h straight season will they finally call out Dimitroff? Smith? Ryan?
If not then how long will Blank be patient? Its time for answers not excuses.
JAYCOOL
July 25th, 2012
11:43 am
But I guess you will be able to stop the run, oh wait it’s a “passing league”. Lets see Lofton didn’t stop L. McCoy you guys play the eagles this year. He didn’t stop the Giants, you play them as well. In that Giants game he was ran over by Brandon Jacobs, who is now with San Fran, well darn you got them too. You better hope that he stepped his game up.
JAYCOOL
July 25th, 2012
11:48 am
It took Peyton Manning with all types of weapons how many years to win. They are not giving up on the core talent of this football team. But if Smith doesn’t win a playoff game and if the Falcons lose it in embarrassing fashion he gets the axe. TD is not going anywhere.
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[...] Falcons linebacker Tatupu out for season [...]
Ivan
July 25th, 2012
12:18 pm
@JAYCOOL
Funny how you assume I’m a Saints fan. An aggravated Falcons fan, yes. Not a Saints fan. Chill.
As it stands now, Lofton/Saints got the better deal when the Falcons let him walk.
Just Sayin.....
July 25th, 2012
12:23 pm
I thought Falcons fans loved Lofton before he signed with the Saints.
Now they say he is garbage.
Atlanta Falcons LB Lofa Tatupu Will Miss Entire 2012 Season with Torn Pectoral Muscle | The Week In Football
July 25th, 2012
12:25 pm
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2012/07/24/atlanta-falcons-lofa-tatupu-out-for-the-season/... [...]
Ivan
July 25th, 2012
1:24 pm
@Just Sayin…
I thought Lofton was a fine LB. Still do, actually, even if he is with the Saints. The other fans just have sour grapes now that he’s with a rival.
thejama
July 25th, 2012
1:35 pm
Could have been a 3 down FA starter with a much bigger cap footprint. Great that we got Peterson who knows the team and is a locker room leader. Have faith that TD will find another training camp cap casualty.
Ghost
July 25th, 2012
4:07 pm
Wow. Didn’t see that one coming the day that picked him up!
Tommy Maddox
July 25th, 2012
4:22 pm
Y’all correct me if needed:
Hasn’t New England regularly gone after aged or previously injured players over the past few years and has gotten the last bit of everything those players had to get them into Superbowls? Maybe that’s where Dimitrov is coming from.
Sadly, the busted/elder guys we get cannot snap back. I really wanted to see Tatupu play.
The Reader
July 25th, 2012
4:24 pm
Injury proned players in this team. How could this happen? In a weight room? Before the season? Don’t they have well paid physicall coaches/trainers? Here we go again: No accountability, and being really well paid. I will never forget coach Mike smiling bg time when shaking hand with NYG coach after losing their playoff game last season. What was to smile about? 3 years in playoffs, and ZERO win! Hope Arthur is going to show the door to all of them, when the time comes.
Shady
July 25th, 2012
4:32 pm
I hate it for Lofa but this is not a huge loss, Dent may have ended up the starter any way.
JSS
July 25th, 2012
4:58 pm
NO, they went after disgruntled, players labeled malcontents (see Corey Dillon), or talented but downright dirty players (see Rodney Harrison)…
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July 25th, 2012
6:13 pm
[...] Tatupu, a former Pro Bowler, who was trying to make a comeback after sitting out last season, had pectoral surgery Tuesday. The surgery will not allow him to play this season. [...]