MVN - Most Valuable Network

Saints Nab Vilma in Trade with Jets

The Saints got who?  Jonathan Vilma?  You mean the Jonathan Vilma that was NFL Defensive Rookie of the year in 2004 and went to the pro bowl in 2005?   The Saints got him?

You better believe it, and in doing so took a huge step toward improving one of the worst defenses in the league. 

Assuming he’s fully recovered from last season’s knee surgery, Vilma will immediately leapfrog Mark Simoneau, who they just resigned, for the starting middle linebacker position.

Coming out of college four years ago, Vilma was highly coveted by the Saints but didn’t last long enough for New Orleans to grab him with the 17th pick.  Instead they took Will Smith, who they also had their sights set on. 

Now they have both guys, each seemingly in the prime of his career.

So if this guy is so awesome, why’d the Jets let him go in exchange for a menial 4th round pick?  The only answer I can think of is that they love losing.

But what other people are saying is that Vilma and head coach Eric Mangini weren’t to fond of each other. 

Apparently there was some resentment on Vilma’s part when Mangini implemented the 3-4 defense upon his arrival in 2006.  See Vilma had thrived for two years under Herm Edwards’ 4-3 defense, earning rookie of the year and a pro bowl selection. 

Then Mangini shows up and now all of sudden Vilma isn’t producing as much as he had been.  Now, two years later, both men are ready to part ways with each other and the Saints are there to capitalize. 

What a great pickup. 

Other noteworthy moves made by the Saints in the past few days have been in house.  They started on Thursday with the re-signing of both Jamar Nesbit and Jonathan Goodwin on the offensive line.

Goodwin’s deal made center Jeff Faine expendable.  Reports coming out today have Faine signing a free agent deal with Tampa Bay. 

I don’t mind the Saints letting Faine go.  Goodwin proved last season when he filled in for an injured Faine that he is capable of handling the center position.  Plus, by opting out of the final two years of his contract, Faine made it clear he was looking for a big payday.  The Saints were obviously not interested in providing him that. 

New Orleans made a couple of more re-signings early today on the defensive side of the ball.  LB Mark Simoneau and DT Brian Young both inked deals to remain with the Saints. 

The Young signing I can understand.  When healthy, he can give you some real hustle and energy on the defensive line.  He’s a good guy for the locker room too.

The Simoneau deal, though, I don’t much get, especially now that Vilma’s on board.  Though he was able to beat out Brian Simmons, the guy brought in to replace him last season, Simoneau never stuck out to me as a playmaker. 

I don’t think I muttered the words, “wow, did you see that play Simoneau just made?” once last season.  He was a decent player sometimes, but mostly he just seemed to disappear into the muck of the defense. 

That’s the kind of play you’d expect out of a second string middle linebacker, which I guess Simoneau now is.  Does that mean Simmons is out of a job? 

We shall see soon enough.  Stay tuned because I have a feeling the Saints are nowhere near being done with their offseason agenda.   
 
    
   

This entry was posted on Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 2:42 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.