Payton: No handshake agreement that Vilma will re-sign

Following the completion of a roster purge to clear salary-cap space, the Saints will shift their attention to free agency, where re-signing MLB Jonathan Vilma will be a top priority. Vilma, who was traded to the Saints a year ago, is said to be very interested in re-upping with New Orleans, but the team will not strike a deal with him until Feb. 27 — the start of free agency — at the earliest, guaranteeing that Vilma will hit the open market. Signing him before then would force the Saints to give up higher draft picks to the Giants and Jets — first- and second-rounders, respectively, instead of second- and third-rounders — per the deals for TE Jeremy Shockey and Vilma. “I’m optimistic (Vilma will be back),” head coach Sean Payton told PFW at the Combine. “I think he fit well with our locker room. I wish there was a handshake agreement (that Vilma will re-sign), but there’s no handshake agreement.”

(profootballweekly.com)