Vilma trade official
 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3270701
I just read this on ESPN. It says its for a 2009 fourth rounder, but could be a 3rd rounder based on Vilma's production. I personally think that sounds like a perfect trade for the Saints if its true.

I've been reading the board for about 4-5 years now. Finally thought I'd post something. I'd thought about it before. So hi everyone.

Just for the the record I was anti-Brooks, hated Haslett, hated Venturi more, I agree with letting Faine go, I think Josh Bullocks is terrible, I am not convinced Reggie is a running back, I think Pierre Thomas will be a stud if they give him a chance, and I would love the Saints to go either DT if Dorsey or Ellis drops, which I don't think they will, so otherwise we should either trade down bc this draft is deep with CBs and LBs, or draft Phillips the S out of Miami. Just my thoughts

Re: Vilma trade official
 

I definately think we are one LB away from domination. Lets hope the draft falls in our favor. A dominant LB corps will help our CBs exponentially. Can't go deep if the QB is on his ass every other down.

Re: Vilma trade official
 

Jets fan here. Very good deal for you guys in my mind and not bad for the Jets. Vilma really suffered after the Jets switched to the 3-4 but was a beast his 1st year in the 4-3. The key obviously will be how his knee is long term but I'm sure the Saints checked that out in detail.

If you guys have DT's that can keep guards off of him you've got an excellent player that will make a ton of tackles for you.

Re: Vilma trade official
 

Beerfish,

why is that the jets are unloading all of these youmg, talented defenders (Vilma, Robertson) just for the sake of moving to a 3-4? I wouldnt disagree with it if these guys were older vets on the way down but these were young, promising players with a history of success in the 4-3...just seems odd to me.

Re: Vilma trade official
 

Cheers to you BeerFish! Always good to have other fans drop in. I saw where some of you guys weren't too thrilled with the 2009 4th pick.

Really hate to see you guys struggle this year after the 06 year, hope you guys get it turned around. Comeback and visit anytime. Good luck this season.

Re: Vilma trade official
 

Alot of Jet fans have asked that question as well. The 3-4 has really hurt the performance of the two guys you mentioned. Robertson is another guy that I think will be great in a base 4-3 with a decent tackle beside him. (Though some other Jet fans will disagree.)

I think Mangini and Tannenbaum made the decision to go 3-4 and are committed to it come hell or high water. One big problem with the 3-4 in my mind is that the pool of ideal 3-4 players is so much smaller than the base 4-3 style. It will take another year or so to get pieces that fit better.

Kris Jenkins should be a much better fit at NT than Robertson was.

LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

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Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

Beerfish, Jenkins is a hell of a player when healthy

Re: Vilma trade official
 

I like a guy who can sum up 5 years in 1 paragraph :)

Re: Vilma trade official
 

I don't know if I should laugh or cry that someone can sum up the past 5 years of Saintshood.:(:D

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

Knee apears to be ok. Should be able to start the season. This is a great signing.

Re: Vilma trade official
 

Welcome to the board!

I am pumped about this!!!! Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, think about it, if we get Fujita, Vilma, and Shanle/Simmons in there, that's already pretty good. Then, if we add another LB via FA or the draft, that's a complete 180. Very excited!

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

If the knee is healthy, this is a heckuva trade. I was pretty ticked off when we didn't draft Vilma, but I'm satisfied now. I think he can help Fujita elevate his game to another level. Now let's go sign Briggs. That would be one of the most feared LB'ing corps in the NFL.

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

Well we hope his knee is ok. The best thing about this trade is that the Saints are only giving away a 4th rounder next year if his knee turns out to be bad. We'd probably waste the 4th rounder on a division 3 offensive lineman anyway.

If Vilma turns out to be a stud we only lose a 3rd rounder, which seems like a great deal to me. What worries me is that maybe the Jets gave Vilma away for so cheap because he is hurt worse than we think.

Re: Vilma trade official
 

You will make a lot of friends around here after that paragraph, I for one pretty much agree with everything you said. Welcome to the board!!!!

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

I don't think that we would trade for the guy if we had any suspicions that he wasn't going to recover. I think that you also have to factor into the equation the fact that Vilma didn't fit into the Jets' scheme and was never going to. Basically, he was dead weight to the Jets, and everybody knew that, so they thought they mine as well get something for him.

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

You know, I though he had Microfracture surgery. Apparently that is not the case. I'm much happier with this move after hearing that.

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

I just want one more OLB (RIVERS)!! Then we will have a monster in the brewing.

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

I hope you're right. I thought Vilma was on the wasy to becoming an elite linebacker early in his career. I just feel like we got him awfully cheap.

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

Just read this on ESPN.com. It has some quotes from Vilma and some information from his medical examination he took with the team that make this move even more promising.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3270701

Re: Vilma trade official
 

Thanks FireVenturi, you've always had my favorite name on the board. If you notice my account started in 2006. I almost replied to a thread about how Venturi was really the biggest problem with our team, but decided that I really didnt need to restate the blatantly obvious

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/Arti...n%20Vilma.aspx

Pretty good Q&A with Vilma.

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

Vil-ma! Vil-ma! Vil-ma!!!

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

My heart sings to hear so many of you on board with Vilma! I'm not sure if its more happiness with a stud at LB or hungry for a smash mouth D that other teams don't laugh at!

Regardless, does anyone else feel like the kid who got the red rider BB gun for Christmas?

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

Oh well you're absolutely right about him being an elite linebacker those first few years. He had over 170 tackles his second season, I think. The only reason why his numbers declined was because of the 3-4 system that Mangini brought in.

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

You guys need to hit the Fan2Fan link and go the Jets site. Most of their posters are pretty PO-ed about the Vilma trade.

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

Not anymore. :)

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

I know everyone wants Briggs next but if we dont get it done, how about one of these four:
Boss Bailey
Dhani Jones
Dan Morgon
Jerimiah Trotter

And then Draft our L.B. and use him and Shanle & Simenou as our backups.
Just wondering if briggs is gone who would be the next viable F/A pick up.

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

I'd bet my right foot that we draft Rivers =\

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

"The knee is actually doing very well," he said. "I had the surgery in November, so it's about four months since the operation and it's feeling very good. I started jogging two weeks ago and I've been doing leg curls. I'm trying to take it easy."

Vilma passed all the medical tests administered by the Saints before the trade was in place.

"The knee shouldn't be a problem long-term," he said. "I just have to take care of it. There was a dead piece of bone in my knee. In the Cincinnati game, it decided to fall [away]. Unfortunately, I've never had a season-ending injury before. I'm just glad the knee is taken care of."

Ok after reading this I FEEL GREAT !!!!

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

[QUOTE=BleedBlack&Gold;155588]I know everyone wants Briggs next but if we dont get it done, how about one of these four:
Boss Bailey
Dhani Jones
Dan Morgon
Jerimiah Trotter

QUOTE]

Bailey--may be worth a look
Jones--resigned
Morgan--No interest
Trotter--completely forgettable...this guy is done.


I think the Saints will make a decent offer to Briggs if he ever makes it down here for a visit...and i believe the Saints will target Rivers in the draft if Briggs doesnt sign.

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

A good start, we still need more help on defense, though.

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

I agree. Target a linebacker in the draft if we dont get Briggs. The linebackers in free agency either arent healthy or aren't better than what we have. Plus we already had Dhani Jones on our team and he couldnt make it past preseason

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

Vilmaaaaa!

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

I think I heard on ESPN that the conditional pick could go as high as a #2 if he signs a long term deal with the Saints. I really wasnt paying attention but I thought they were talking about Vilma. Anybody else hear that? Like I said I wasnt paying attention they couldve been talking about someone else.

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

Nevermind I just read one of the links and it says the pick could be a #2 if we sign a contract extension. Just read all the talk of a #3 or #4 round pick and was a little surprised when I heard a 2nd round pick.

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

Hey guys...

Another Jets Fan here.

Wanted to weigh in on the Vilma deal, why we traded him, and what you can expect to get.

First of, it was a good deal on both sides, from what I've heard, it's a 4th rounder this year, along with a conditional next year. If he reaches the conditions next year, I believe it will be a 2nd round pick, but we'll have to return a 4th to you.

This tells me that Vilma's knee is still a bit of a concern, from what I understand, he has not even started jogging yet. So it's very much up in the air next year, he says he'll be ready, but how often does a player say that he wont be?

Why did we trade him? Vilma is a terrible misfit for our defense. In fact, the 3-4 system we run literally exaggerates his weakness while suffocating his talents. Mangini believes that the system is more important then the players in it, so he's sticking to his guns. Therefore, there was no room for Vilma on the team despite his leadership abilities, he was a liability for us. My only wish was that we traded him before this season, I'm fairly certain we could have gotten a high 2nd rounder for him at that point.

Now, what you can expect... You're going to love him in. His leadership is great, he's a guy who's jersey you'll be proud to own and wear on gameday. He's a model citizen.

On the field, his sideline to sideline ability is what makes him great. I think he's going to secure a spot as a top MLB in the league. Don't expect to get Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher, but definitely just a step below. The guy will make a ton of tackles and chase down linebackers running outside all game. You'll love his speed, I mean love it. You'll wonder 'How the hell did he get there to make that play'. He will literally be a rock for you in the middle for years. (if you extend him) He also I'm sure will take your defense on his back and become a captain immediately.

On the negative side, one thing Vilma has never really been IMO is a playmaker, as I said, he's going to make a ton of tackles, and be absolutely rock solid, however, I would not expect many forced fumbles, sacks, or tackles for loss. Even in his best years with us, he never had them. Also, he's 6'1, 230... not much bigger than many RBs, which means while he's a monster at taking angles, catching you, and bringing you down, if you run right at him, you neutralize his advantage. (specifically why he was invisible in the 3-4) He will make the tackles in these situations, but he'll get run over a lot and bring the ball carrier down falling forward for those 2-3 extra yards. Hopefully you're strong in your interior D-line or working to be stronger. If not, D-Rob for sale!!! (Another player who will vastly improve once he's out of our system)

On a personal note, I was rooting for you guys hard last year, and you are and will continue to be on of my favorite teams. Good luck this year, and enjoy your new MLB!

PS: This is a cool smiley: :bartinator:

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

Thanks for the insight.

Re: LB Vilma Officially A Saint - More Excitement
 

Wow good read. You pretty much summed up alot of my questions on Vilma.