Jets deal Vilma to Saints

Published 1:18 pm Friday, February 29, 2008

NEW YORK — The New York Jets traded linebacker Jonathan Vilma to the New Orleans Saints on Friday for an undisclosed draft pick.

Vilma, who missed the last nine weeks of the 2007 season with an injured right knee, had his production decline the past two years after coach Eric Mangini took over and installed a 3-4 defensive scheme. With rookie David Harris’ emergence as a playmaker at inside linebacker, Vilma became expendable.

“I enjoyed my four seasons with the Jets and thank them for the opportunities they gave me,” Vilma said in a statement. “But this represents a new chapter in my football career and in my life and I am truly excited and fortunate to be joining a team that just a little over a year ago was one win away from appearing in the Super Bowl.”

Vilma, who turns 26 in April, had 118 tackles after being the No. 12 overall pick out of Miami in 2004 and was named defensive rookie of the year. He led the NFL the following season with 187 tackles, earning a Pro Bowl selection while establishing himself as one of the league’s top young middle linebackers.

That changed in 2006, when the Jets switched defenses upon Mangini’s arrival from New England and Vilma had just 116 tackles. He played in seven games last season before injuring his knee at Cincinnati and had 39 tackles. Meanwhile, Harris appeared to be the perfect fit for the defense, racking up a team-leading 117 tackles, including 20 in Week 9 against Washington.