Stephen Tulloch Gets Less Than Quincy Black
March 23rd, 2012
Tough-guy free agent middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch re-signed with the Lions yesterday for only $11 million guaranteed and $25 million over five years, so Twittered Lions beat writer Anwar Richardson, via CommishOnline.com.
That really stood out to Joe. Tulloch scored a little less than Quincy Black, whose deal last year for the same contract duration was reported at $11.5 million guaranteed and $29 million overall.
One might think the Tulloch deal now puts a ceiling on the devalued linebacker market and the expectations for free agent Curtis Lofton, the Falcons MLB that seems content to hang out on his couch rather than sign with a guaranteed eight-figure offer from the Bucs. (For the record, Joe couldn’t fathom ever waiting to sign such a lottery ticket. Suppose you get into a career-ending car accident tomorrow, ala B.J. Askew?)
Tulloch, per the Detroit Free Press, gets a lot of the same kind of love in Detroit that Lofton does in Atlanta.
He led the team with 111 tackles, set career highs with two interceptions and three sacks, and assumed a leadership role that had been lacking in the middle of the defense.
“Bigger than his production on the field is what he gives us in our locker room and what he means to our football team,” general manager Martin Mayhew said. “His leadership, his toughness, competitiveness, football character, his work ethic, all of those things are really important to us and really a great example for our younger players.”
For those bummed/angry the Bucs didn’t get Tulloch, the story linked above explains that Tulloch never wanted to leave Detroit.
Joe hopes Lofton is reading this and comes to his senses. So what if you earn less that Black, Mr. Lofton. You can still have a happy life and career in Tampa.
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Im not sure the Bucs want Lofton anymore … The coaches had very limited time to review film before the start of FA. They have probably had a lot of time to review more film on specific prospects since FA has settled.
Maybe they saw something they dont like. I hope the Bucs sign David Hawthorne.
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:15 pm
The longer Lofton waits the more I feel like he wants to go back to atlanta. I hope not but might be true.
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Bring back Mr. derrick brooks he’s better than all of our linebackers even though he’s like 70.
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Joe….a tweet from Adam Schefter last night said that Lofton signed with the Cowboys.
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:22 pm
We have heard that Lofton has signed with the Eagles, Bucs, and now Cowboys…..
SIGN WITH SOMEONE ALREADY!
At least the Tulloch deal sets the bar for LBs a little more workable rate. Maybe they are going after Hawthorne
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:24 pm
@ Steve from Orgeon
I have found nothing that even indicates that the Cowboys are even interested in Lofton. Nothing suggests he visited the Cowboys and certainly there absolutely no ward of Lofton signing with anyone.
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:25 pm
There’s London Fletcher too
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:28 pm
London Fletcher is the move for the Bucs. He’s the Pro Bowl performer not these other guys
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:29 pm
London Fletcher = Hardy 2.0
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Yeah London would be the guy if he wasnt older than d brooks
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Ok enough with the London Fletcher nonsense. He will be 37 this season, Nickerson was 28 when he joined the Bucs. At Fletcher’s age he would be lucky to put up the #’s of Hawthorne or Lofton. And who exactly do we have on our roster for him to mentor? If we sign MLB then Foster is going to OLB, which is where he belongs. Fletcher makes no sense for the Bucs and their youth movement.
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Anybody know who led the league in tackles last year?
Tulloch had 111. Lofton had 147.
Fletcher had 166 tackles. Tops in the league
Unless you strictly are looking at his age and not his production, and what he does on and off the field, there’s ZERO reason to not want Fletcher.
2 year contract. And there’s is hell of lot more to mentoring than a specific position.
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:48 pm
alstottsmart, have you not learned anything from the bucs the past few years? theyre not adding someone in theyre late 30’s to this team. Just stop trying to make this push for fletcher. Its not happening
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Alright trade Black to Washington for L.Fletcher lol. That way the Redskins can pick up his contract. Bruce Allens the only other person besides Raheem that will pay that price for an okay linebacker.
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:49 pm
David Hawthorne has 115 solo tackles 2 Sacks, 3 INTS, 0 Forced Fumbles but he had 3 FF the year before. The guy also hits HARD !!
He can play SAM or MIKE and would give us the option with Foster and actual COMPETITION !!!
If we sign Lofton there will no competition at MLB.
Maybe the Bucs plan on getting Manti Teo next season!
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Hawthorne also gets deeper drops in coverage. He hwas hampered by a knee injury this season but played through it. Maybe that is an issue ??
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:50 pm
As per profootballreference.com, which doesn’t keep the assist stats, has the following:
Curtis Lofton: 96 tk 2 int 1 sk
Stephen Tulloch: 92 tk 2 int 3 sk
David Hawthorne: 72 tk 3 int 2 sk
London Fletcher: 96 tk 2 int 1.5 sk
I’ll take the younger guys. I get the whole veteren leadership argument, I just don’t think it flies in this case. I’m sure you weren’t jumping for joy when the Bucs signed Charlie Garner. Signing old players isn’t worth the $$$.
March 23rd, 2012 at 12:53 pm
@ Kujolw
Dominik made that ridiculous contract with Black.
March 23rd, 2012 at 1:06 pm
Damn it Mark lol.
March 23rd, 2012 at 1:08 pm
As much as I screamed at QB last year, its still a new year. Maybe Schiano shines a turd and we may actually have something.
March 23rd, 2012 at 1:09 pm
We will all have to agree to disagree. I’m not sure I get how adding an experienced vet or two, to fill in the roster for a few years is somehow a bad thing.
Take a look at some of the vets that TB added right before the Super Bowl run. Whether they were early 30s or late, that is splitting hairs. Fletcher produces.
You won’t win a Super Bowl with all old FA vets, but nor will you with all young players.
Fletcher would play circles around that squad of LBs from last year.
March 23rd, 2012 at 1:19 pm
There’s a reason Fletcher made the Pro Bowl over Lofton, Tulloch and Hawthorn. Because he’s better. You’re suppose to field your team with the best players
March 23rd, 2012 at 1:22 pm
I don’t like Fletcher’s age either, but the guy produces and could end up being a stop gap for 2 years … as long as they get a young MLB to learn under him.
If not they end up with a young guy at MLB again in 1-2 years and we know that doesn’t fly.
I prefer Lofton then Hawthorne. When you take into Tulloch’s contract, either should be affordable.
March 23rd, 2012 at 1:35 pm
Lofton wants 9 Million a year … pfffffft … Who does he think he is ???
QUINCY BLACK ?!?!?
March 23rd, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Fletchers not bad at all. He could also help teach our LB’s
March 23rd, 2012 at 1:59 pm
There is a difference. Quincy Black will only get 11.5mil for sure. Tulloch is likely to collect the whole 25mil. Bet on it!
March 23rd, 2012 at 2:10 pm
This just proves how bad the Black contract was.
You guys are blasting Lofton for wanting 9 mil from the bucs. If I were Lofton and he said your not worth it —- I would pop in the tape of Jane Black and say you paid this guy 29 mil with 11.5 guaranteed.
Judging by that standard, 9 mil per is a bargain.
March 23rd, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Jameel McClain back with the Ravens. The back up MLBs are all GONE.
Curtis Lofton, David Hawthorne, London Fletcher, EJ Henderson. Those are your options ladies and gentlemen.
One thing that scares me is the Bucs arrogance on their weaknesses, as we learned last year at RB and LB last year specifically.
March 23rd, 2012 at 2:26 pm
…lets see who swerves first.
March 23rd, 2012 at 2:39 pm
I say we get Fletcher and Henderson or Hawthorne. Let Fletcher teach the young guys how to play the position for a yr and allow the natural replacement take place the following season.
March 23rd, 2012 at 2:39 pm
@jvato
From a Front Office perspective I’d have no fear at all. The longer Lofton is out there the more desperate he’ll be. He knows that there are other MLBs out there who’ll take less $$ and that any potential suitors could fill their vacancy via the draft. This is a buyers market.
March 23rd, 2012 at 2:50 pm
i would rather have DeMeco Ryans then Lofton.
March 23rd, 2012 at 2:58 pm
@bucrealist
Would you have given up a 3rd rounder for him (since we don’t have a 4th rounder)?
March 23rd, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Well Buc Realist if it makes you feel any better … It was the Bucs 4th round pick that was traded for Ryans !! .. Have a great DAY !!
March 23rd, 2012 at 3:06 pm
What Dominik needs to do, is put the word out publicly, that the Bucs are having Hawthorne in for a thorough visit, wine and dine Hawthorne, check out Hawthorne’s medical history, watch him perform with coaches, and watch how that will scare the life out of Lofton’s agent!!! Just exactly like Detroit did with having Hawthorne in for a visit there, then Tulloch signs before Hawthorne even lands off the plane.
I’m tellin you, it will work. At absolute worst, we sign Hawthorne to a 4 year deal, at cheaper annually than Tulloch got with Detroit.
Just do somethinggg, Mark!
March 23rd, 2012 at 3:15 pm
does anybody know if Lofton wants to be a Buc? i read how we should just sign him,, but do we know how serious he is about being in Tampa. maybe hes playing poker with the Falcons and using us like people suggest we do with Hawthorne. how aggressive are we really being on a guy who may NOT wanna play in Tampa. just a thought. BUC IT IM OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 23rd, 2012 at 3:22 pm
@jvato24
They also switched 3rd round selection with texans as well.
@sensiblebuc
I would rather have my GM shop all avenue’s for acquiring talent. Whether drafting, free agency or trading players.
March 23rd, 2012 at 3:26 pm
My question was more about how much value you put on Ryans vs. the value of that pick. Is he worth that much?
March 23rd, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Fletcher iwould produce good #’s this season and I would expect a drop off the following. he would be good to mentor our LB’s except for that we only have one with potential. I am rooting for Foster, but he didn’t impress last year. There were flashes and a guy like Fletcher could try and pull more of them out, but we need more than just Fletcher. I would like Hawthorne or Lofton to come in and be the answer for 5 years and draft a solid LB in 2nd round. If we bring Fletcher in then I want Keuchly to learn under him. It’s a package deal for me Kuechly and Fletcher or else Hawthorne/Lofton and a solid 2nd rounder (Claiborne being the first.)
March 23rd, 2012 at 3:50 pm
Theres alot of offseason left. My prediction is they wont sign a LB until after the draft once the 2nd round of cuts begin… We just have to be patient, I think the front office will be heavily involved with those 2nd round of cuts coming up
March 23rd, 2012 at 3:53 pm
Who was that kid we signed from Tennessee that was a stud at Georgia, but is not living up to expectations in the pros? He might be a hidden gem.
March 23rd, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Rennie Curran, short and stocky like Tulloch, just very unproven. He will get a decent look during offseason workouts and training camp. Still need some kind of veteran leadership in the middle.
March 23rd, 2012 at 4:14 pm
HOLY HELL….what is Mark doing?!?!? The Vikings just re-signed Erin Henderson, OLB, for one year at 2 million dollars. That’s it 2 million!! A starting outside linebacker, definitely better than we have on our payroll, that was intriguing and available, Erin Henderson, 2 million dollars, 1 year, no injuries.
What’s Mark (and staff) doin?!?!?? 2 million, for a starting outside linebacker, cute.
March 23rd, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Why is Dom trying to save a few bucks with Lofton when you have no legit option at LB right now?
They have cap room. There is no second or later round option that is Lofton’s obvious equivalent.
Sign the guy and release Winslow and/or Talib if you are freaked out over the $.
March 23rd, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Rumor has it that Barrett Ruud is available on a 1 year deal?
March 23rd, 2012 at 4:21 pm
@Sensiblebuc
To attain the value of a straight up 3rd, I look at the GM’s record of drafting in the 3rd round, So the question becomes is DeMeco Ryans equal or greater than the following players. Roy Miller, Myron Lewis, Mason Foster. I will let you answer if Ryans is worth our 3rd.
March 23rd, 2012 at 5:48 pm
MArk Dominick screwed this deal all up when he gave Quincy Black all that money.
Lofton is better, and wants more money then we paid Quincy Black.
Can you blame him ?
March 23rd, 2012 at 5:59 pm
@bucrealist
Fair enough.
March 24th, 2012 at 12:47 am
EJ Henderson is gone. Signed 1 year at $2 million. Pretty cheap if you ask me! Come on Dominick!
March 24th, 2012 at 12:54 am
My bad Erin not EJ…
March 24th, 2012 at 1:04 am
One can easily assume Dominck screwed up royally with Black.
March 24th, 2012 at 8:57 am
Erin Henderson is not good. Suspended for banned substances and only has 50 tackles in 5 years. Who said he was a starter?
March 24th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
@J 2.0 Anyone who saw him play last season would laugh at you.