Curtis Lofton will replace Jonathan Vilma, the New Orleans middle linebacker who is appealing a one-year suspension for his role in the Saints' bounty scandal.

It's such a hot button topic that Lofton's grandmother, Terrell, was curious why her grandson, a free agent, willingly signed a five-year deal with a team that will play this season without its head coach, Sean Payton, who is also suspended for a year.

“I feel I'm back in a football city,” Lofton said. “Coming from Oklahoma where football is everything, I went to Atlanta where they have so many other things going on. In New Orleans, the Saints are No. 1. Everybody loves the Saints. It's been awesome.”

Lofton, who grew up in Kingfisher and went on to a standout career at OU, said players being punished for reportedly being paid to injure opposing players didn't influence his decision.