New Orleans Saints
Jonathan Vilma - #51 - LB
| Status | Active |
| Height/Weight | 6' 1"/ 230 lbs. |
| Birthday | 04/16/1982 |
| Birthplace | Coral Gables, FL |
| College | Miami (FL) |
| Years played | 10 |
| Drafted | 2004, 1st round, 12th pick by Jets |
2012 STATS
| Tack | FF | Int |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | 0 | 1 |
Goodell to meet with Vilma on Monday
Saints LB Jonathan Vilma will meet with commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday to discuss Vilma’s suspension that was recently vacated.
NFL issues statement on CBA Appeals Panel ruling
The NFL issued a statement about last week’s ruling by an appeals panel that lifted the suspensions of four players involved in the Saints’ bounty program.
Goodell to meet with four players in bounty scandal
Roger Goodell and four players whose suspensions in connection with the bounty investigation were lifted by an appeals panel have agreed to new meetings.
Super Bowl prep zipping along in Big Easy
In less than five months, the Super Bowl will return to New Orleans for the first time since 2002, and the preparations are well underway.
Report: Vilma willing to meet with Goodell
Saints LB Jonathan Vilma is willing to meet with Roger Goodell, ESPN’s Ed Werder reported.
Saints re-sign WR Arrington, place Vilma on PUP
The Saints placed LB Jonathan Vilma on the PUP list and re-signed WR Adrian Arrington on Monday, the club announced.
NFC South Spin cycle: Week One
Two teams are up and two are down — here is our weekly team-by-team take on the state of the NFC South.
Shorts and Shells: Week One
Welcome to Overreaction Sunday, where RG3 can do no wrong, the Bills and Saints do little right and Peyton Manning is back in business. We think.
Griffin shines as Redskins down Saints
Robert Griffin III began his NFL career by connecting on 19-of-26 passes for 320 yards and two TDs, as the Redskins beat the Saints, 40-32.
Saints add DE Smith to roster
The Saints announced Saturday that they had placed DE Will Smith on their roster.
Player suspensions from bounty case vacated
A three-member appeals panel vacated the suspensions of the players allegedly involved in the Saints' bounty scandal, Jim Trotter of Sports Illustrated first reported.
Ingram just a part of Saints' RB committee
While Mark Ingram had a quiet preseason, the Saints are brimming with confidence about their deep arsenal of running backs.
Key matchup: Redskins QB Robert Griffin III vs. Saints MLB Curtis Lofton
In Thursday’s key matchup, PFW’s Eric Edholm focuses on the battle between Robert Griffin III and Curtis Lofton in Sunday’s Redskins-Saints game.
Suspended Saints DE Smith releases statement
Saints DE Will Smith, who is suspended for the first three games of the season, released a statement on Thursday.
Redskins S Meriweather out 2-4 weeks
Redskins S Brandon Meriweather will miss 2-4 weeks because of sprained ligaments in his left knee, head coach Mike Shanahan said Wednesday.
PLAYER NEWS
People familiar with the situation say defensive end Will Smith and Vilma has agreed to restructure his contract in order to remain with the New Orleans Saints.|||||||
The 31-year-old Smith and 30-year-old Vilma, both veteran defensive captains who were implicated in the NFL's bounty probe, would have consumed about $23 million combined in salary cap space had they not agreed to new deals before the new league year - and free agency - began Tuesday afternoon.
Vilma has asked a federal judge to allow him to move forward with his defamation case against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.|||||||
In a motion filed Wednesday, Vilma drops his case against the NFL's disciplinary process, now that his suspension has been lifted. However, he continues to pursue damages from Goodell for harm he alleges was done to his reputation by the NFL's bounty probe of the New Orleans Saints. In an NFL appeal ruling Tuesday, former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue threw out suspensions for Vilma and three other current and former Saints in connection with the bounty investigation.
Saints defensive end Will Smith says he and linebacker Jonathan Vilma will be present Friday when their lawyers cross examine former New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in Washington, D.C. Williams appears at a bounty hearing on Friday morning, according to a schedule set by Paul Tagliabue. The former NFL commissioner has been appointed to oversee the latest round of player appeals in the matter.|||||||
Smith and Vilma will leave Atlanta after Thursday night's game against the Falcons. They are among four players issued suspensions of various lengths in the league's probe of the Saints' cash-for-hits program. Smith and Vilma are playing while their appeals are pending. Williams and former Saints assistant Mike Cerullo were two of the NFL's central witnesses in the probe. Cerullo's appearance is scheduled for Thursday.
Vilma hopes to play a bigger role on the Saints' defense in his second game of the season Sunday against Denver. He said his knee, and his entire body, held up very well after the Tampa Bay game. He did not make a tackle but had one deflection and forced a near interception.|||||||
Playing for the first time while appealing his season-long suspension for his role in the New Orleans' bounty program, Vilma played 18 snaps last Sunday against Tampa Bay. Vilma declined Friday to talk about any bounty-related topics leading into his appeals hearing Tuesday with former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who will decide whether to uphold Roger Goodell's ruling.
Vilma played for the first time on Sunday while appealing a season-long suspension due to his role in the Saints' bounty program, recording one quarterback hit and breaking up one pass.|||||||
New Orleans still gave up a season-high 513 yards, but players said Vilma's return provided an emotional lift.
