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New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said Thursday he has no regrets about bringing linebacker Jonathan Vilma back from short-term injured reserve for one game before returning him to injured reserve Wednesday — ending his season.

Vilma, who had arthroscopic knee surgery in mid-August, missed the first seven games before being activated Saturday for the game with the New York Jets. But after getting just 12 snaps against the Jets, Vilma’s comeback ended Wednesday when he went back on IR.

“The feeling — on both our parts — was that what he’s used to and accustomed to playing, at a certain speed and a certain level and certainly what we’ve seen, still wasn’t there,” Payton said. “But he’s progressing.”

Vilma, a former defensive captain and one of the most respected players on the team, was not available in the locker room Thursday during the time it was open to reporters.

Payton noted that Vilma, a 10-year veteran who has been plagued by knee issues in recent years, hasn’t made any long-term decisions about his future.

“We just had real good dialogue, and obviously difficult dialogue, with a guy that we have won a (Super Bowl) with and has been a great leader in this locker room,” Payton said.

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QBREES9

Thanks Jon. You were great !

pinch

Props to the coaching staff for not mucking with a situation that was working. My guess is that Vilma realized he would not be in the starting line-up and decided to hang it up.

nola_swammi

I regret it for him, lost Martez Wilson to the Raiders

lee909

The team wouldn't have cut Martez if he was performing well enough.I had high hopes for him but he wasn't cutting the mustard. Parys and the need to secure Griffin aswell as his own performance lost him his roster spot.But good luck to him and I hope he hss a good career.

Imo the front office needs to do a better job of choosing how and when to shed the older players.Too often they are playing or on the roster because we keep restructuring the deals and oushing pay onto the end making iy impossible to cut or yrade said players even when under performing.

"Two receivers to the left, Garcon to the right. Manning in the shotgun, puts Collie in motion. Looks in his direction...it's picked off! It's picked off! It's Tracy Porter again! He's runnin' free! He's gonna go all the way!

hagan714

i still small raider favoritism in the saints front office. i may have stepped in it but i can not get ride of that smell

nola_swammi

I guess that is why they traded Ivory instead of Ingram

nola_swammi

I guess that is why they traded Ivory instead of Ingram

|Mitch|

No; they traded Ivory because we were in serious need of a NT when Jenkins fell to the 3rd round(1st round talent) because there were no other teams needing a NT.

Not too mention he was never healthy when he was here...

And regardless, John Jenkins has outplayed both Ivory and Ingram combined this year so looks like a great job by the front office