Saints not extending Vilma?

by nosaints8700 on Dec 11, 2008 12:56 PM CST

Saw this on rotoworld.com a minute ago;

The Saints will not give contract-year MLB Jonathan Vilma an extension before the season ends, according to NFL.com's Adam Schefter.
Had they done so, the draft choice the Jets got for Vilma would upgrade from a fourth- to a second-round pick. That and Vilma's mediocre play made the decision easy for the Saints. Vilma ranks sixth in the NFL with 104 tackles (76 solo), but hasn't made a big difference for New Orleans' rush defense. Dec. 11 - 1:11 pm et
Source: NFL.com

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=NFL&id=2775&line=134437&spln=1

What does everyone make of this?

This FanPost was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.

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Jesus I'd hate to think of where we would be today without him

What were they expecting?

by stujo4 on Dec 11, 2008 1:40 PM CST reply actions

Mediocre

in fantasy terms. In real-life, flesh-and-blood, NFL terms, he’s been the backbone of the Saints defense.

Everyone knew they were going to do this. It all has to do with the compensation.

WHO DAT!

by MtnExile on Dec 11, 2008 1:54 PM CST reply actions

Is the stipulation just that the deal must be done before the season's end?

(In order to get the higher draft pick) or Can it be the Saints & Vilma have an agreement to get a deal done after the season, thus saving the 2nd rounder? Seems to me Vilma is happy, and could be the leader of the Defense moving forward. Like Stujo said, couldn’t imagine what the D would have been like w/o him this year…

by Brian.Corbett on Dec 11, 2008 1:54 PM CST reply actions

Saints can still sign him once he becomes a free agent

This is what Adam Schefter posted about the situation. It provides a little more detail.

Had New Orleans resigned linebacker Jonathan Vilma to a long-term contract extension this season, or even shortly thereafter, two New York teams would have benefited.

First, the conditional fourth-round pick the Saints traded to the Jets for Vilma would have become a second-round pick.

And if that Vilma trade with the Jets had involved a second-round pick, then the Saints would have been forced to compensate the New York Giants with a first-round pick for tight end Jeremy Shockey.

But New Orleans can exhale. The Saints did not re-sign Vilma, and will not attempt to do so until he becomes a free agent, thus the value the Jets and Giants receive now can be determined.

The conditional fourth-round pick the Saints traded to the Jets for Vilma will become a third-round pick in 2009. The Jets used the Saints fourth-round pick in 2008, but they will have to return a fourth-round pick to New Orleans this April.

And while the Jets get the Saints third-round pick, the Giants will get New Orleans’ second-round pick for Shockey.

So the Saints now are scheduled to have their first-round pick, and two fourth-round picks, with no second- or third-round picks.

I think the Saints will just wait until he technically becomes a free agent and then try to secure his services for next season. I don’t see Vilma’s play this year as “mediocre.” His leadership and intensity has been a huge boost to the defense that will only improve next year.

So am I correct in assuming that the Saints will still have a 1st, 4th, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th round pick in next year’s draft?

Go Saints!!!!

by David "Satch" Kelly on Dec 11, 2008 2:25 PM CST reply actions

Damn you said it much better than I!

by Grumps on Dec 11, 2008 2:28 PM CST up reply actions

From what i understand this is likely just a way to avoid giving the Jets the higher pick. Otherwise, we would have got really hooped as the pick impacts on the SHockey trade and the round of that pick as well.

I am sure they will sign him as a free agent. He has been a great addition and i think a good fit from both sides.

by Grumps on Dec 11, 2008 2:27 PM CST reply actions

Vilma had an excellent season

i think he and sedrickrick ellis were the best defensive players this season and i think he did a great job. with a defensive line who can’t sack a potato, what do you expect?

by Philinwood on Dec 12, 2008 5:26 AM CST reply actions

In light of the Chicago game

would you re-sign with the Saints if you were Vilma?

WHO DAT!

by MtnExile on Dec 12, 2008 7:17 AM CST reply actions

maybe

If they sit him down and say … “This is what we are going to do.”.

Show him that they are going to focus on the defense this year. No trading for invisable TE. No drafting kickers, no drafting WR. Defense.

A Linebacker.
A DE
A CB

FA or draft but they address those and our defense … with a DC that can figure out how to get a rush.. will stop being the suck and might actually let the offense have a bad day and still get a win.

MT
Reward: Have you seen my Defensive Line? If so please contact the front office.

by MT_always on Dec 12, 2008 8:26 AM CST up reply actions

Here's what they need to do

Hire a defensive coordinator with a history of an excellent linebacking corps. Marvin Lewis and Mike Nolan, for instance from the Ravens; or Dave McGinnis from the Bears and Titans. Someone that Vilma (and others) can believe in.

Otherwise, if I’m Vilma, I’m gone to the best 4-3 team out there that shows interest in me. Hate to see it happen, but you can’t blame him. He’s an A+ defender in a C- defense, and the escape hatch is wide open.

Three years of deteriorating results is enough. Replace Gary Gibbs!

by MtnExile on Dec 15, 2008 4:43 PM CST up reply actions

I know nothing, but that hasn't stopped me from typing before

I don’t know any of this for a fact, but I think Vilma LIKES it in New Orleans. I think he will buy their BS about building the D around him. I think he likes his teammates and his coaches (if you can imagine that). I think he’ll stay. Change is hard. Starting over with a new team, new facility, new town, new friends…. Just for the money? I think the Saints will pay him anyway so it won’t be about money.

JonVilma.com:

I think, defensively, we are making the kind of strides I know we have to make. We gave up one long pass play against Kansas City and then held them when we had to, which was encouraging.

For me, I feel like I am getting better every week. The coaches feel that way. I like New Orleans very much. I like the team, the fans, the city. We’re building something here. We just need all the pieces to come together.

by stujo4 on Dec 15, 2008 6:13 PM CST up reply actions

I know less your nothing...

but I agree with.

Thats why I think if they sit him down and tell him that they are not going to leave him out there alone that there could be a good chance he would be back.

MT
Reward: Have you seen my Defensive Line? If so please contact the front office.

by MT_always on Dec 16, 2008 8:05 AM CST up reply actions