Saints Gab

While Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma cannot pay a visit to the Patriots according to sources, there was no stopping him from visiting the New Orleans Saints on Monday as he continues to take a look at possible new teams to play for.  The Jets are allowing Vilma to talk to teams about working out a deal to move on from the Jets to somewhere else.  The former first round draft choice was told by the Jets that he was allowed to talk to all teams but the Patriots.

The Saints are in the market for defensive help, as they talked to LB Zach Thomas, are reportedly the front runners for the race that will start on Friday to land CB Asante Samuel, and also have talked about former Panthers LB Dan Morgan, who was recently let go by the team.  Vilma would be a welcome addition as long as he can stay healthy.  In his four seasons with the Jets, he was solid when it came to making sure tackles, as he put up 115 in 2006, 173 in 2005, and 108 in 2004.

BlackAndGold.com reported the visit of Vilma to the Saints, but it wasn’t known if he was there for a physical, workout or to discuss a contract.  The Jets are going to want a draft pick for Vilma, but until the LB takes back an offer to them, it’s not known exactly what they are going to want for him.

After getting an offer from the Pats last week but not accpeting it right away, now there is word that another offer has been made to former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas. NFL Networks Adam Schefter is reporting that the Saints have given an offer to Thomas to join their team. They are in need of a middle linebacker, and he is a much better fit for the Siants and would be of more use to them then he would be in New England. Nothing about the offer in terms of money or years is known, but rumblings around the league are that the Saints are the front runners now to land Thomas.

Recently released linebacker Zach Thomas is about to go on tour. Visiting teams that is. Thomas was let go by the Dolphins last week, and despite only playing in a handful of games last season due to concussions, Thomas is being courted by a few teams around the league. Already set up to talk to Thomas include the Saints and Cowboys. The Cowboys play a 3-4, and even being a bit smaller, Thomas would fit their system. The Saints are in need of a middle linebacker, so again, Thomas would make a good fit there.

Last season the Siants used 31-year-old Mark Simoneau as their middle linebacker, and he wasn’t all that productive, only averaging 4.4 tackles in 16 starts. Thomas, when he was able to take the field averaged more than 10 tackles per game. Simoneau is bigger than Thomas, as he is 6-foot, 245, while Thomas is just 5-11, 228 pounds. But, one source said in the Palm Beach Post today that the Saints are the best shot for Thomas.

Thomas threw out there a couple of teams he’d like to play for, which included three top AFC teams – the Colts, Pats and Chargers. Problem is, none of those teams are quite in the need of linebackers like the Saints and Cowboys. He knows right now he’s just a short-term answer for a team. “I’m not a long-term answer going anywhere,” he said. “I’m a short-term answer. I want to enjoy my last year, maybe two years. Who knows?”