Link: Vilma Would Have Loved a Jets-Saints Super Bowl
Jonathan Vilma admitted to reporters that he was hoping for a Jets-Saints Super Bowl, but not because of any vendetta against his old squad, but as he told Vinny DiTrani from the Bergen Record, just because he was pulling for his old friends.
“I was hoping, not for bad reasons, though,” he said of a potential Jets-Saints matchup.
“I watched their season and I still have a lot of friends there on the team. I was really hoping because two years removed from being with those guys, they deserved it.
“I felt like they were playing real good ball at the end, had a real good stretch really playing some good defense, especially. I was hoping they’d go. I would have been excited for them.”
Vilma spent his first four seasons with the Jets and was selected Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2004. He suffered a knee injury that ended his 2007 season early, and when Eric Mangini became the coach he did not think Vilma would fit into his system.
So on Leap Year Day of 2008, the Jets shipped him off to New Orleans for two draft picks.
“I said when I was leaving that I had a real good time up there, I really enjoyed playing up there in New York,” he said. “I enjoyed the fans; I really enjoyed my teammates. I still keep in touch with my ex-teammates.
“So leaving, I just felt like it was part of the business. It was a situation where I didn’t fit the system, whatever anyone could speculate. It didn’t really bother me because I knew I was coming here. I was wanted down here and I was coming to a situation that was good.”
Vilma’s always been a stand up guy, and I’m happy to hear he doesn’t look back on his time in New York with malice. He was one of my favorite guys during his time with the Jets. I’m sure it didn’t hurt that the Saints already had a gameplan in place that they worked out early in the season for the 2010 Jets though …
7 Responses to Link: Vilma Would Have Loved a Jets-Saints Super Bowl
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bleedsgreen&white says:
Why did they let him go? That year that it was him an Harris in the middle was awesome!!! Damn MANGINA……..
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Bent says: Was that a joke? They went 4-12 that year and Vilma was replaced by Harris, they didn’t play together.
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NorCal says:
Bent-Why confuse the fond memories with facts?
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lol i forgot he got injured
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head_coach says:
VILMA WE MISSS YOOOOOOUUUU!!!!!
class act!!! go get em JV!!!!