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Jonathan Vilma | Linebacker

Team: New Orleans Saints
Age / DOB:  (31) / 4/16/1982
Ht / Wt:  6'1' / 230
College: Miami (FL)
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

The Times-Picayune says Jonathan Vilma "seems to be" the front-runner for the second starting inside linebacker job.
We'll see. Vilma is in his decline phase at age 31 and is really wearing down against the run. He'll have to hold off a strong challenge from David Hawthorne in camp. Vilma may be best-suited to fill a nickel role at this point in his career. May 2 - 10:48 AM
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune

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Player News

Date:
Jonathan Vilma - LB - Saints

Saints LB Jonathan Vilma took a $3.7 million pay cut to stay in New Orleans.

He sliced his salary from $4.8 million all the way down to $1 million. Vilma did have his offseason workout bonus increased from $100,000 to $200,000, but this was a pretty large pay cut. Vilma's salary cap number has been reduced from $8.633 million to $3.833 million. Though a poor run defender at age 31, Vilma remains decent in pass coverage. He'll likely be a nickel 'backer in 2013.
Source: ESPN.com
Mar 13 - 3:03 AM
Jonathan Vilma - LB - Saints

The Saints restructured the contracts of LB Jonathan Vilma and DE Will Smith.

Smith and Vilma will likely stick in New Orleans for 2013, but they're both odd fits for the new 3-4 defense. We'll see if the Saints use the newly found cap space to lock up free agent left tackle Jermon Bushrod.
Related: Will Smith
Source: Larry Holder on Twitter
Mar 12 - 4:20 PM
Jonathan Vilma - LB - Saints

CBS reports the Saints have offered LB Jonathan Vilma and DE Will Smith "lesser deals to stay."

Neither Vilma ($5.9 million) nor Smith ($10 million) had a prayer of remaining at their currently scheduled salaries, but it's interesting the Saints are giving them a chance to stay at all. Both players are on the wrong side of 30, and poor fits for the Saints' new 3-4 defense. There's still a good chance each moves on.
Related: Will Smith
Source: Jason La Canfora on Twitter
Feb 27 - 6:05 PM
Jonathan Vilma - LB - Saints

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Saints will ask LB Jonathan Vilma and DE Will Smith to take pay-cuts.

We doubt they ask nicely. The New Orleans Times-Picayune recently guessed Vilma would have to take a "drastic" pay cut, while Smith is a poor fit for Rob Ryan's 3-4 defense. It's possible both players will simply end up being released. A player in decline, Vilma may not even want to make the switch to a 3-4 scheme.
Related: Will Smith
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Feb 18 - 9:16 AM
Jonathan Vilma - LB - Saints

The New Orleans Times-Picayune considers it "highly likely" LB Jonathan Vilma will have to take a "drastic" pay cut to remain with the Saints.

Vilma is due $4.8 million coming off a lost season, and will count $8.6 million against the cap. He may also be left without a position in the Saints' new 3-4 defense, but coach Sean Payton insists that's not the case. "(Vilma's) a guy that runs to the ball and has great vision, very instinctual football player," Payton said. Payton believes Vilma could occupy the weakside, with Curtis Lofton remaining in the middle. That unlikely scenario won't have a chance of happening if Vilma doesn't restructure.
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune
Feb 12 - 3:54 PM
Jonathan Vilma - LB - Saints

The NFL announced that former commissioner Paul Tagliabue has overturned the remaining discipline of Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith, Scott Fujita, and free agent Anthony Hargrove in the Saints' bounty case.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello released a statement saying that Tagliabue affirms the findings of commissioner Roger Goodell that the players "engaged in conduct detrimental," but opted to "vacate all player discipline" anyway. "My affirmation of Commissioner Goodell's findings could certainly justify the issuance of fines," Tagliabue is quoted as saying. "However, this entire case has been contaminated by the coaches and others in the Saints' organization." Tagliabue's ruling essentially determined that Goodell correct if a bit overzealous in his discipline. This should put an end to the drawn-out bounty coverage.
Related: Scott Fujita, Will Smith
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 01:32:00 PM
Jonathan Vilma - LB - Saints

Saints LB Jonathan Vilma had no tackles and one quarterback hit in his 2012 debut Sunday.

Vilma came off the bench as depth at weak-side linebacker. The nine-year veteran is being allowed to play while his year-long suspension for the bounty scandal goes through the appeals process. His next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30.
Source: Associated Press
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 08:13:00 AM
Jonathan Vilma - LB - Saints

Saints LB Jonathan Vilma (knee surgery) is active for Sunday's game against the Bucs.

Vilma officially came off the PUP list on Saturday. He's expected to start in place of the injured David Hawthorne (hamstring) at weak-side linebacker and play between 20-30 snaps. Curtis Lofton is entrenched as New Orleans' middle linebacker.
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 11:44:00 AM
Jonathan Vilma - LB - Saints

Saints LB Jonathan Vilma is expected to play 20-30 snaps in his 2012 debut Sunday against the Buccaneers.

The Saints are missing WLB David Hawthorne, so that figures to be where Vilma will play. Curtis Lofton is entrenched at middle linebacker. Vilma looked to be on his last legs a year ago and underwent a series of knee surgeries this offseason. We'll find out what he has left in the tank on Sunday.
Source: ESPN.com
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 04:31:00 PM
Jonathan Vilma - LB - Saints

Saints LB Jonathan Vilma (knee surgery) expects to come off the PUP list Tuesday and make his 2012 debut Sunday against the Bucs.

You may recall Vilma's year-long suspension was recently upheld by Commissioner Roger Goodell, but Vilma has filed yet another appeal, and it appears he'll be able to play through it. Vilma had a sub-par 2011, but his return should boost the Saints' No. 31 run defense. With Curtis Lofton entrenched at middle linebacker, it's unclear where Vilma may play.
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Mon, Oct 15, 2012 11:41:00 AM
Jonathan Vilma - LB - Saints

In its latest ruling in the Saints' bounty scandal, the NFL has upheld Jonathan Vilma's year-long suspension.

DE Will Smith's four-game ban has also been upheld, though both players will get credit for "time served" so to speak. Vilma will collect game checks for the six weeks he spends on the PUP list. Scott Fujita's suspension has been reduced from three games to one, while free agent DT Anthony Hargrove will only have to serve a two-game ban if/when he's signed. Naturally, the NFLPA has vowed to "pursue all options to protect our players' rights with vigilance," so we're still not near the end of this seven-month saga.
Related: Scott Fujita, Will Smith
Source: NFL.com
Tue, Oct 9, 2012 05:13:00 PM
Jonathan Vilma - LB - Saints

Profootballtalk reports the NFL has re-issued the Saints' bounty discipline, including suspensions for Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith, Scott Fujita and free agent Anthony Hargrove.

The NFL will issue an explanation soon, clarifying the discipline. Asked if the suspensions would be the same as those original handed down, the league tells PFT, "It's not that simple." The players will likely take this back to the courtroom, which means there will be no resolution anytime soon.
Source: Profootballtalk on NBCSports.com
Tue, Oct 9, 2012 04:06:00 PM
Jonathan Vilma - LB - Saints

Saints placed LB Jonathan Vilma (knee) on the reserve/PUP list.

Vilma had his suspension rescinded on Friday, but he is still working his way back from multiple knee surgeries and will be forced to miss at least the next five weeks of the season. Curtis Lofton is the team's starting middle linebacker.
Source: Adam Caplan on Twitter
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 06:14:00 PM
Jonathan Vilma - LB - Saints

Saints placed Jonathan Vilma and Barrett Ruud on the Roster Exempt list.

Vilma is working his way back from multiple knee surgeries and is still subject to suspension for "conduct detrimental" to the league. The Saints added DE Will Smith to the active roster in a corresponding move.
Related: Barrett Ruud
Source: Sportsnola.com
Sat, Sep 8, 2012 10:38:00 PM

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