Jon Vilma's Chat Wrap From Verizon's PlayMaker Mobile

Former Cane Jonathan Vilma is one of the elite athletes using Verizon’s PlayMaker Mobile to connect and share experiences with fans. He joins fellow Canes Ray Lewis and DJ Williams on the platform and chatted with fans on Friday about this week’s opponent, the Miami Hurricanes and much more!

MobileUser-5565 Jonathan how was the week off? What did you do? Do you visit PR regularly?
MobileUser-5615 Is it a challenge for a team to get back into a groove after a bye week?
jonathanvilma:  Hey guys!
jonathanvilma:  The week off was great. Had the long weekend in Puerto Rico. More relaxing than fun. Laid by the beach and by the pool.
jonathanvilma:  Ran into some Jets fans!
jonathanvilma:  They were having a bachelor party so that was fun. They were real cool.
jonathanvilma:  I'm glad the coach gave us the week off.
jonathanvilma:  I try to visit Puerto Rico once a year b/c it's so close to Miami. It's like a mini-getaway. It's like Miami but it's not. The culture is different and the people are different. The beaches and weather are the same.
jonathanvilma:  There isn't the high maintenance of South Beach Miami so it's real lowkey.
jonathanvilma:  It's not a challenge physically to get back into the groove
jonathanvilma:  It's a challenge mentally
jonathanvilma:  You've gotta be sharp with the adjustments and it feels almost like the first day of training camp. But it only takes like one or maybe two practices to get back into that mental groove.
MobileUser-5615 Have you studied any film on the Giants yet? And if so, do the have any weaknesses?
jonathanvilma:  But I'm glad we had the time off. There's always a chance the coach says we gotta work on something and you have a few practices. But I don't mind practice. I like practice and training camp. But I like PR too!
jonathanvilma:  Film on the Giants?
jonathanvilma:  Oh yeah.
jonathanvilma:  It's still early but I've watched some.
jonathanvilma:  They don't have any glaring weaknesses.
jonathanvilma:  They're undefeated for a reason.
MobileUser-5565 Are the Canes back?
jonathanvilma:  Great QB, young receivers making tons of plays. Good o-line. Great running back. Two great running backs actually.
jonathanvilma:  I sure hope the Canes are back. It's been a long time coming.
MobileUser-5565 Weren't you and DJ Williams on the same Miami team?
jonathanvilma:  When you face four tough opponents the way we did, handled it the way we did, and only one hiccup to a solid team (V Tech who beat up on BC this weekend) — each time I watch them they're getting better as a group. The sky is the limit.
jonathanvilma:  Yes, me and DJ were on the same team all four years.
jonathanvilma:  Recruited by Butch Davis.
jonathanvilma:  He started on offense his rookie year then moved over to defense, and we were linebacker buddies from there on out.
jonathanvilma:  Recruited by Butch Davis and Greg Schiano, who is the head coach of Rutgers right now.
jonathanvilma:  Don't wanna forget Greg.
MobileUser-5565 Are u surprised by the Broncos fast start
jonathanvilma:  He was my coordinator freshmen year before moving to Rutgers.
jonathanvilma:  You know what, it's not surprising.
MobileUser-5615 How amped up is the city of New Orleans for the showdown of unbeatens?
jonathanvilma:  You always get one of those teams.
MobileUser-5565 Incredible staff and talent you had at Miami
jonathanvilma:  Fly under the radar all offseason then all of a sudden they're 5-0 or 6-0 and DJ Williams has been telling me that they're a good team even MINUS Jay Cutler and even WITH the distractions.
jonathanvilma:  You see, that's the thing: A team of good players will always beat a few great players.
jonathanvilma:  But there are surprises.
jonathanvilma:  Like the Titans.
jonathanvilma:  I didn't expect them to be winless. They went 13-3 for all the right reasons so it's been surprising they haven't found a win for five weeks. They just keep finding ways to lose. For five weeks.
MobileUser-5565 Good points you make about Denver. Football is indeed a team game.
jonathanvilma:  That's the biggest NFL surprise this season in my opinion.
jonathanvilma:  But mostly the season has been a lot of what I expected.
MobileUser-5615 Who is the unsung hero of the Saints?
jonathanvilma:  The top-tier QBs and RBs are playing as expected.
jonathanvilma:  Everyone is being consistent minus the Denvers of the world b/c people didn't think much of Kyle Orton, and he's playing lights-out right now.
jonathanvilma:  Lights out.
jonathanvilma:  The unsung hero of the Saints?
jonathanvilma:  Hmmm.
jonathanvilma:  You know, I'd have to give it to our PUNTER!
jonathanvilma:  Punts and kickoffs. Thomas Morstead. Hidden yardage that people don't notice.
jonathanvilma:  Two, three touchbacks a game.
jonathanvilma:  Forces fair catches with his punts.
jonathanvilma:  When someone needs to be pinned down, he pins them on the five.
jonathanvilma:  People are happy when they see it but they don't necessarily understand how important it is to the flow of the game. So Thomas Morstead you're the hero!
MobileUser-5615 What has he done that has been so impactful?
jonathanvilma:  I'm laughing now, because lots of people think kickers and punters aren't real football players.
jonathanvilma:  But how many games get decided by 3 points or less? They're so vital to the game.
MobileUser-5565 What are some of your off field interests? What did you study at Miami?
jonathanvilma:  Off the field.
jonathanvilma:  Let's see.
jonathanvilma:  DUring the season, sleep.
jonathanvilma:  A whole lotta sleep whenever I can get it.
jonathanvilma:  Offseason I like to travel, get out of the country at least once a year.
jonathanvilma:  15 or 20 years ago there was no such a thing as offseason training. But now times have changed.
jonathanvilma:  So a lot of that time is still devoted to working out, staying in shape, being around your teammates. But I find time to travel.
jonathanvilma:  I studied finance at Miami.
jonathanvilma:  I haven't used my degree yet b/c fortunately I was drafted by the Jets!
jonathanvilma:  But I do plan to use it by retire. But I'm in no rush to use it.
jonathanvilma:  I want to have as much fun as I can before I ever have to use my finance degree. I call it fun because football is not work to me. Football is my life. I can't even believe I get paid to play football.
MobileUser-5615 Is there any player on the Saints D that is coming into his own that we should pay attention to?
jonathanvilma:  Up and coming guy on Saints D is Scott Shanley—he's got two picks so he's not flying under the radar but he's doing a great job.
jonathanvilma:  OK guys.
jonathanvilma:  Bye week. Not too much to talk about, I guess.
jonathanvilma:  But I'll be back on PMM later this week with some talk about the New York Giants!
jonathanvilma:  I'm gonna try to do a live video after the game. We'll see how things go.
jonathanvilma:  See you Friday! Thanks to my fans.

Vilma is one of 12 playmakers using PlayMaker Mobile to connect with fans through live chats and exclusive text updates, photos and videos. Other athletes on the PlayMaker Mobile roster include Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens), Yao Ming (Houston Rockets), Jeremy McGrath (Supercross Champion), Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles), Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns), Antonio Pierce (New York Giants), Gretchen Bleiler (Snowboard Champion), Lolo Jones (American Track star), Greg Oden (Portland Trail Blazers), Adrian Wilson (Arizona Cardinals) and Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics).

Thank you again proCane fan Kirk with sending us the transcript!