Saints Gab

Saints Pro Bowl LB Jonathan Vilma would like you to help the rescue and relief efforts in his parent’s native country of Haiti. Vilma is sellling “Domeland Defense” T-shirts, with proceeds going to help victims of the recent Earthquakes in Haiti. You can purchase the shirts at www.domelandshirt.com

“It’s tragic to hear what happened, but the best thing I’ve seen or heard or read about it is everyone’s really trying to come and help,” said Vilma, who also filmed an NFL public service message that will be shown during the rest of the playoffs. “I’m very excited (by the outpouring), especially when I’m here and I’m so focused in on doing something that feels almost selfish, because I can’t be helping and I can’t help my family.”

Update: If you can’t wait for your shirt order to come in, they are available at New Orleans area Sports Avenue and some Walgreen’s stores.

The Saints return to practice Wednesday morning in preparation for Sunday’s NFC Championship game. Coach Sean Payton decided to give his players extra time to rest and recover from Saturday’s game, hoping the team will return fresher and energized going into Sunday’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

Afterwards, catch the post practice press conference live on NFL Network as part of five hours of continuous coverage of Conference Championship Week. The Saints segment will start around 1:45 PM Central Time from the Saints’ practice facility in Metairie. Coach Payton, Drew Brees, Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith will be available to the media for interviews.

(For anyone interested, the Colts press conference starts at 11 AM CT, followed by the Vikings at 11:45 AM, then the Saints and finally the Jets at 2:45 PM)

The Saints are bringing back their top tackler from 2009, as they have re-signed linebacker Jonathan Vilma to a five-year contract. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Vilma, who came to the Saints last season from the Jets, became a free agent after his first season with the Saints. He led the Saints with 151 tackles and three forced fumbles and added a sack and an interception.

Vilma played his first four NFL seasons with the Jets before the Saints acquired him in a trade. The former University of Miami standout was the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2004. A knee injury cost Vilma the last nine weeks of 2007, but he played all 16 games for the Saints last season.

Good news today for linebacker Jonathan Vilma, as prosecutors dropped charges of resisting arrest and other crimes today against him as the linebacker agreed to give money to charity and clear up outstanding tickets.

The former University of Miami player was arrested last month during a traffic stop and charged with felony resisting arrest with violence and misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and obstruction of justice.

Vilma will donate $1,000 to a hospital trauma center, said Ed Griffith, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office. The officer involved agreed with the decision not to press charges, Griffith said.

In a statement released by the Saints, Vilma thanked prosecutors for their decision.

“As I have indicated in the past, I would vigorously fight any charges filed against me surrounding the incident that occurred,” Vilma said. “I believe the State Attorney’s office did the just and right thing in this matter.”

Defense attorney Michael Tein said his client is relieved and is looking forward to focusing on football again.

Vilma will be a free agent this winter but has said he would prefer to stay in New Orleans. He led the Saints in tackles in his first season with New Orleans after spending his first four years with the New York Jets.

Looks like the Saints are going to get back MLB Jonathan Vilma. Today’s Biloxi Sun-Herald has a report that Vilma should be back. Here is the report:

The Saints’ biggest free agent question mark will be middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma. All signs point toward the two sides signing a new deal once free agency begins. Outside linebacker, while decent with Scott Fujita and Scott Shanle, could use an upgrade.

Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma is in trouble with the law, as he was arrested in Miami Friday afternoon for reckless driving and resisting arrest. He was released last night on $6500 bail. “Clearly he’s upset about being arrested and plans to fight it,” Vilma’s agent, Mitch Frankel, told The Associated Press. “There was no alcohol, drugs or firearms involved. Jonathan plans to vigorously fight it.” The LB will be a free agent in about a month, but has already said he wants to stay with the Saints. It will be interesting to see if this latest arrest sways the teams thoughts of making him an offer or not.

From: NFL Network

Had New Orleans resigned linebacker Jonathan Vilma to a long-term contract extension this season, or even shortly thereafter, two New York teams would have benefited. First, the conditional fourth-round pick the Saints traded to the Jets for Vilma would have become a second-round pick.

And if that Vilma trade with the Jets had involved a second-round pick, then the Saints would have been forced to compensate the New York Giants with a first-round pick for tight end Jeremy Shockey. But New Orleans can exhale. The Saints did not re-sign Vilma, and will not attempt to do so until he becomes a free agent, thus the value the Jets and Giants receive now can be determined.

The conditional fourth-round pick the Saints traded to the Jets for Vilma will become a third-round pick in 2009. The Jets used the Saints fourth-round pick in 2008, but they will have to return a fourth-round pick to New Orleans this April.

Saints fans knew that this was going to be a tough game against a division opponent and one they desperately wanted to win. The last meeting between the two teams was in week one as the Saints won 24 to 20 but that game wasn’t over until the defense intercepted Garcia with 44 seconds left. However, the Buccaneers have 8 victories since then, including being 5-0 at home this season and have won their last three games.

Saints QB Drew Brees (24,/47, 296 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs) has been on fire this season as he leads the league with 3,870 yards and is on the verge of breaking Dan Marino’s single season record for most yards passing. The Saints had the number one ranked passing offense coming into the game but they were going up against the number two ranked passing defense. The Buccaneers have been a hard team to beat this season and they proved it again by intercepting Brees three times.

Buccaneers QB Jeff Garcia (9/23, 119 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT) put up fewer yards and struggled completing his passes but was effective for his team on the ground as well with 42 rushing yards, more than any Saints player.

Read more

After a dismal showing last week against the Houston Texans, the New Orleans Saints defense finally stepped up and played well shutting out the Bengals. The Bengals had 11 offensive series, with 10 ending in punts, and one with a turnover by interception. The Saints also only allowed the Bengals to cross mid field once while stopping Cincinnati on all but four of their third down conversions. (4-of-14-29%) and limited the home team to only 165 yards total offense.

As usual, the Saints first team offense minus Jeremy Shockey who was suppose to play his first game as a Saints tonight drove down the field on their first possession, settling for a field goal, after a third down and 10 pass to Colston in the end zone was dropped.

The Saints second possession of the night resulted in a one yard touchdown pass by Drew Brees to Ronnie Ghent, to put the Saints up 10-0 with 6:03 left in the first quarter.

The third possession was stopped short by two incomplete passes, and poor running. The Saints were forced to punt for the first time, but managed to eat up time off the clock, and allowing the defense to get sufficient rest.

Read more

There have been allot of questions, the last few months on how much injuries will affect the 2008 season for the New Orleans Saints.

Deuce McAllister is by far a big component of the Saints offense, without a big bruising back coming out of the backfield; the Saints will only have a passing game. It will not take long to find a way to defend against Drew Brees, if Deuce is not in the line up. He has looked good so far, with minor swelling, and all reports have him ready to march in come September.

One of the biggest defensive pickups for the Saints this off season was Jonathan Vilma; he also has been questionable coming off from injury. The success of the Defense weighs heavily on him being on the field.. He has been impressive so far, and his limited reps, should not hinder his ability to step in, and provide the tough leadership the Saints need on the defensive side of the ball.

Mike McKenzie has been slow to return, but looks to be close. The big question for him, will be has he lost a step? The only consolation is the depth the Saints have in proven veterans, and young emerging talent at the corner back position.

If there is one thing the Saints are not lacking, is depth at each position. The battle to make the roster as a special team?s player is going to be tough.

Read more