Shockey and Vilma Double Their Bling

The Miami Hurricanes are good at a lot of things: celebrations, smoke, amateur rap careers.

They're also good at winning on two levels, and got even better last night. With a Saints victory in the Super Bowl, former 'Canes Jeremy Shockey and Jonathan Vilma joined 10 other U alum with rings from both a national championship and a Super Bowl. The list includes Bernie Kosar, Michael Irvin, Kevin Fagan, Coleman Bell, Jeff Feagles, Vince Wilfork, Daniel Stubbs, Alfredo Roberts, Russell Maryland, Darrin Smith, and Jimmie Jones.

Shockey, the brashest and trashiest and blondest of tight ends, wasn't targeted a lot but produced when it mattered with a two-yard winning touchdown catch.

Vilma, undersized but savvy at middle linebacker, faced off against a quarterback famous for his crafty goal-line checks and audibles -- and won. New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said the Coral Gables High grad audibled the Saints into "at least 20 calls of the right defense,'' including a crucial fourth quarter play in which he checked out of a blitz to deflect a Peyton Manning pass intended for Austin Collie, forcing the Colts to attempt a field goal up by one. They missed.

Where have we seen this sort of thing from these two before? Oh, right: 2001.

"The feeling is almost the same,'' Vilma said in comparing the Hurricanes' defeat of Nebraska and the Saints' win over Indianapolis. "I think we were so talented [in 2001], it was a blowout game. We knew we were going to win the game by the start of the third quarter. This game was completely different. I think the effort it took, the concentration it took makes it that more satisfying."

In true Miami tradition, there was also a bit of redemption for both after going underestimated and unwanted. Vilma was sent to rot in New Orleans by the Jets after an injury in 2007; the Giants were so through with Shockey he had to pay his own way to watch them win a Super Bowl from a luxury box in 2008.

If New York knew its orange and green history, they might have known the two would play better when counted out. 

"It's a great feeling right now," Shockey said. "I don't care about the catch, I just care about the team... I dreamed and prayed all day and night about being in the situation I'm in right now."

Click here to order Jeremy Shockey’s or Jon Vilma's proCane Rookie Card.



(nbc.com)