Atlanta Falcons: Curtis Lofton says Saints don’t consider Falcons rivals
By Michael Cunningham
FLOWERY BRANCH—To get a taste of the disdain the Falcons feel for the Saints, just mention the fact that New Orleans has won 11 of the last 13 games in the series including a 31-27 victory on Nov. 11.
“We got tired of hearing about it,” Falcons running back Michael Turner said today.
Asked if the Saints and Atlanta’s rivals, Turner said: “I think there is no question about that. You can see the difference in intensity when we play them.”
But, to hear Saints linebacker Curtis Lofton tell it, the seething isn’t as strong on the other side.
Lofton signed with the Saints as a free agent last offseason after playing four seasons with the Falcons. He said he’s noticed a difference in how the Saints perceive the Falcons as opposed to the other way around.
“Being here in this program, I feel like they see it as a divisional game, not a rivalry game,” Lofton said.
The Saints’ dismissal of the Falcons as a worthy rival is the latest chapter in a long history of trash talk between the NFC South foes. The insults boiled over before and after the last game.
The Saints alleged that Falcons players Sean Weatherspoon and Joanthan Babineaux walked through their pregame warmup talking trash to Lofton and continued to do so during the game. Lofton said Tuesday that the pregame incident was a “fact.”
Saints linebacker Scott Shanle called Atlanta’s pregame antics “classless.” In the days after the game, Falcons wide receiver Roddy White said the trash talk directed at Lofton was playful but Lofton didn’t seem to take it that way.
“For me, personally, I prefer to go out and do my job and keep my mouth shut and let my actions speak for me instead of words,” Lofton said Tuesday. “Some guys love to yap back and forth. It just depends the type person you are.”
White further angered the Saints with his postgame comments.
“It’s not like they came out here and won a game,” White said. “I think we kind of gave it to them.”
Shanle told Yahoo Sports that the Saints “still own” the Falcons said they are their “little brothers.”
“I think part of your job as a professional is to take a loss and give the other team the credit.” Lofton said Tuesday. “You don’t just say, ‘We gave them a win.’”
White declined to speak to reporters when approached in the locker room on Tuesday.
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128 comments Add your comment
telouse21
November 28th, 2012
3:02 am
who dat!!!!!!!!!!
telouse21
November 28th, 2012
3:04 am
Falcons is not going to the superbowl!!!!!!!!!! I predict.
A Fan
November 28th, 2012
5:15 am
Hey 4BsihTneeS . Bored?? Lonely? I heard you could pay a few of those ball players on your favorite team to dish out a little pain to you. I heard they work cheaper now.
Whadda Ya Know?
November 28th, 2012
7:06 am
Who cares what Blimpie thinks. He’s not old enough to remember the battle of the losers of years past. Now grant you, that might have changed since they became the Breeses. But just remember, nothing lasts forever. As Brees goes, so will the Taints! So enjoy him while you can because Chase Daniels d@mn sure isn’t going to win games the way Brees carries your team. LOL
rm
November 28th, 2012
7:14 am
Lofton sounds Bitter!! Everyone knows this is a rivalry, even back when both teams were absolutely terrible.
Nativebird
November 28th, 2012
7:27 am
Lofton was overrated indeed. Lots and lots of tackles….10 yards down field. No tackles for losses, no sacks, no picks, and couldn’t cover a turtle out of the backfield. And now those lofty abilities have truly come to light in one of the most aweful defenses in the history of the NFL.
GTT
November 28th, 2012
8:21 am
Class? Peeing on the Falcons logo. Nuff said.
SirReal
November 28th, 2012
8:40 am
Who cares what Lofton has to say. He was like a machine in the locker room. Yeah he could run and hit but thats about it. If you ever have seen D Block, he’s such an uncharismatic BORE! Enjoy being an Aint especially when Payton bolts.
zbulldawg
November 28th, 2012
8:41 am
I salute you Mr. Samuel playing with just 1 arm !! It seems Turner isn’t hitting the hole quick enough !! I wonder if he has slowed or just trying to set up blocks for a longer gain. He does know he’s not that type of back ? He’s been mixing it up with these teams for awhile his holes will close quicker than Rogers’ . His plays needs to hit the hole quicker ! He’s not getting a chance to get to the next level. He needs to except his role with this team & make the most of it. He runs like he’s trying to prove somebody wrong !! And maybe he is trying But this is the Falcons of the future or should I say the NFL of today !! We still need to be able to pound it when we need to. Get on broad Turner we need you !! RISE UP
smh...
November 28th, 2012
8:43 am
Curtis is just trying to down play the hard feelings he has for the Falcons when they didn’t resign him. This is nothing but a rivalry!! During the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s before these teams started to win, it was known as the battle to avoid last place. Ask any BAGHEAD if this is a rivalry and they will tell you “YES” without a doubt! Curtis Lofton AKA “KEITH BROOKINGS” Motto: I will make the tackle after 10yds and I can’t cover a bed !!!
Statick
November 28th, 2012
8:51 am
Not seen as a rivalry? Really? I can see that Lofton fits in very well down there with the Aints. Because he, like them, their fans, their city and their entire lyin’, cheatin’, bounty-posting franchise, are all FULL OF ****.
Esquire
November 28th, 2012
8:53 am
4BsihTneeS
November 27th, 2012
8:21 pm
Not rivals….little brothers is more like it. And they’re going to kick their little brothers’ rear ends again on Thursday night.
****************************************
Hey Peeshwank, at the least try to be original.
PMC
November 28th, 2012
9:03 am
Lofton was wanted here, We liked him. He was an outstanding MLB tackling wise, he was good calling the defense and he was in the right place. They were good against the run in large part because of Curtis Lofton.
In the new scheme that values the outside linebackers more highly he was not a 5 million dollar+ MLB. He’s not Patrick Willis.
Good player, very good, great teammate, not a difference maker. We couldn’t afford to pay him what he wanted so he moved on…
meme
November 28th, 2012
9:08 am
We didnt think he was much of a MLB too slow in the brain & on his feet & now he’s on a lousey defense thats not even going to the playoffs!! hows that boot feel up there? “big bro”. Spoon lost it while taking your job! HAHAHAHAHAHA
Pp
November 28th, 2012
9:09 am
Aints fanz need to get their bags back out cause their season is over already, pitiful. I wouldn’t be talkin junk if I had only won 4 or 5 games, go hang out with Carolina and da sucaneers at the bottom you losers.
tspec
November 28th, 2012
9:21 am
Honestly, when you’ve lived in a Fema Trailer for 7 years you deserve a decent football team.
just sayin'
November 28th, 2012
9:26 am
Kinda like UF and UGA. Until UGA wins 5 in a row, that’s not a rivalry, either.
1998 Was Our Year
November 28th, 2012
9:28 am
With that type of mind-set, is the reason why Lofton was and still is an average Linebacker in the NFL.
meme
November 28th, 2012
9:30 am
4B let it be said, is s fag or a hag & needs a bag on its head
Dwayne pn
November 28th, 2012
9:30 am
Lofton is just butt-hurt. Low self esteem.
Dwayne pn
November 28th, 2012
9:32 am
Lofton is like the guy that got dumped publicly by his hot girlfriend. He begs and crys to get her back but she just turns her nose up at him. He gets angry then goes around talking trash about her to all his buddies and anyone who will listen to try and make him self feel better. Loser.
just sayin'
November 28th, 2012
9:35 am
name hijacked…this atl team will struggle…the game this past sunday showed how incompetent, or biased, the refs are..even troy/joe couldn’t believe the lack of calls on the san fran team….let’s see how they call the game tomorrow nite…
Mike is Back
November 28th, 2012
9:38 am
DLed, Lofton can say all the crap he wants…the BIRDS have disdain for all the teams in our division…EXPECIALLY the friggin Aint’s!
BUT the BIRDS…gon have to go after Brees…for the bleeding to stop.
RISE UP BIRDS…IT’S TIME TO KNOCK SOMEBODY…TF OUT.LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stepchild
November 28th, 2012
9:40 am
What the 49ers looks easy on tv……Its much harder to do in person. the Falcons will have their hands full.
Stepchild
November 28th, 2012
9:40 am
What the 49ers did looks easy on tv……Its much harder to do in person. the Falcons will have their hands full.
Just the Facts
November 28th, 2012
9:47 am
The head to head record is 46-41 in favor of the Falcons.
Scumbag Aints
November 28th, 2012
9:50 am
Curtis Lofton has run his mouth more than anyone. This guy is the ultimate bltch
just sayin'
November 28th, 2012
9:51 am
0-3
D man
November 28th, 2012
9:56 am
Falcons 10 & 1 and soon to be 11 & 1. Enough said…
Mikey
November 28th, 2012
9:57 am
I am convinced that this site just randomly and accidentally loses comments. SysOp?
falconfanriseup
November 28th, 2012
10:01 am
Who cares what Lofton thinks?
Whadda Ya Know?
November 28th, 2012
10:11 am
justsayin’ 5-6, no playoffs this year. You had you one playoff game against the Falcons three weeks ago. Now got back to your Brees wet dream.
just sayin'
November 28th, 2012
10:15 am
SB Ring, yes….playoff wins, none…
Falcon James
November 28th, 2012
10:18 am
LMAO- White declined to talk to the media. That is funny stuff right there. I am 100% positive that it was not Whites choice. I bet someone told him “a closed mouth receives no foot”
just sayin'
November 28th, 2012
10:19 am
godell(?) made sure the New Orleans team would fail this year…waiting for proof, substantiated proof to be provided..only hearsay….
Keeping it real
November 28th, 2012
10:23 am
Its the year of the Bird,and i don’ mean the Eagles, I’m talking Falcons here! The Bird is the word!
Decatur 4 Life
November 28th, 2012
10:25 am
4BsihTneeS
Were you this confident when Aaron Brooks was in New Orleans, funny how one fluky Super Bowl victory against a New Orlenas native quarterback give you guys all the confidence in the world. Peyton gift wrapped that Super Bowl for yall and now you want to bragg, the “Aints” might have our number lately but overall you guys still need to catch up.
Keeping it real
November 28th, 2012
10:29 am
The Birds playing the turds,it don’t get no better than this!
The Rock
November 28th, 2012
10:30 am
Does anybody speak english on this blog?
Decatur 4 Life
November 28th, 2012
10:40 am
just sayin’
Really? Seems to me all of those guys are back on the field except for the coach, sounds like an excuse to me. Also UF and UGA is a rivalry and so is ATL and NO, I tell ya its funny how a Super Bowl ring makes people want to act “brand new”. Rivalries have nothing to do with how many one team wins in a row you are aware of that aren’t you
Buddy Landel
November 28th, 2012
10:51 am
Would be nice if Bounty paper towels did a promotion for Thursday night’s game.
Buddy Landel
November 28th, 2012
10:53 am
just sayin- You’re blaming the commish now for your team’s failure? How about blaming your dirty players? Does anyone remember when Vilma got on Twitter and posted “Victory is mine” after the arbitor let him play again? I wonder what he will post after Tagliabue drops the hammer on him next week?
North FLA Falcon
November 28th, 2012
11:21 am
This *RIVALRY* goes back to the 70s with Bartkowski, Alfred Jenkins, Alfred Jackson, the “Hail Mary” passes and the 20-17 victories!
Dr.EB
November 28th, 2012
11:36 am
The Falcons need to win this game and move on to the next one. Home field advantage is at stake.
North FLA Falcon
November 28th, 2012
11:57 am
Dr EB is right. The more we win, the more secure we would be with home field and possibly a first round bye to get people healthy. You don’t want to go to Green Bay or Chicago or NY (again) in the playoffs. We are not a grinding run team, we are a finesse pass first team => dome team.
markie mark
November 28th, 2012
11:58 am
Sergeant, report for spelling 101 class. There, they will teach you the correct spelling of your name, and the word “censor”. Think of it as a drill, only mental this time.
Soup-San
November 28th, 2012
12:16 pm
After he left the Falcons I still stood up for the guy and hoped he had a long and healthy career. Had no idea he was gonna turn into a douchelord. I’m done defending the guy. I hope he gets run over by a swamp boat the next time N’awlins gets flooded out.
L.A. Mont
November 28th, 2012
12:17 pm
Mentally, this is a big game for ATL!! If we are to be the best in the NFC this year, this is a game you must win! Can’t allow your “rival” to sweep you. Let’s get it donw and make it happen!
What's Important
November 28th, 2012
12:36 pm
Who gives a flying rat’s ass what Curtis Loftin thinks? Guy wants to be “embraced”, not “tolerated.” This is football jackleg, if you had done your job in Atlanta you would have been embraced. Picked the wrong horse and now he’s running his mouth about class. How’s that Super Bowl team working out for you Curtis’?
WTF?
November 28th, 2012
12:47 pm
How can the Aints call the Falcons their little brother when the Falcons, even after dropping the last 11 of 13 to then, still are ahead in the series 46 – 42. Falcons still own the Aints. Now who’s the little brother runnin their mouth. RISE UP!