Jonathan Vilma Reflects On His Time As A Jet

Former Jets linebacker and 2004 Defensive Rookie Of The Year Jon Vilma caught up with Randy Lange of NewYorkJets.com and spoke about the Saints and reflected on his time with the Jets. The interview came up because this season is the first time Vilma plays against the Jets.

Reflecting back and talking about his new team: “I can’t complain,” said Vilma, who signed a new long-term deal this off-season to remain in the middle of the Saints defense. “New Orleans has treated me very well. The environment’s definitely different from New York, a slower pace. It was an adjustment. But here, as I usually do, I just tune a lot of the outside world out. No casino, no Bourbon Street. It’s all football.”

When talking about his new contract with the Saints: “I was very fortunate,” he said. “At one point [in 2007] with the knee injury and all kinds of questions about whether I’d be able to play, you forget the long-term. But the next season, I was able to bounce back from that to perform and perform well. I didn’t miss a snap during the season. It was just like I used to go, back in the day. The contract was rewarding. I wasn’t nervous about it, just more anxious. I knew I did as much as I possibly could do on and off the field to fit into New Orleans and be a good leader.”

Reflecting on his time with the Jets: “I enjoyed my years up in New York. I still keep in touch with Kerry Rhodes, with Eric Barton even though he left. I keep in touch with a lot of guys. I had fun, good times,” he said. But it’s still a business. That’s why I never got too high with the highs or too low with the lows. Any minute can change things in just the blink of an eye. That’s what happened when I got injured and the Jets felt I wasn’t a fit for the 3-4 and they wanted to make changes. That was fine with me. I was going to go somewhere and play well. It never really bothered me.”

Talking about Rex Ryan: “I’ve heard nothing but good things about Rex,” he said. “Ed Reed told me I would’ve loved to play under him, and Ray Lewis said the same thing. Kerry told me he’s a real good guy and so did Shaun Ellis. Timing was everything.”

Discussing the game against the Jets next season: “Drew Brees asked me if I’m going to be extra excited for that game. I said I really don’t know,” he replied. “We’ve got you guys pretty early in the season. It’s not like the hype Drew got when we went to London to play his former team [late last October vs. San Diego] and there was added emotion for him. By the time the season gets here, there probably will be some extra emotion. Now, well, I left with good thoughts. The fans were good to me. I really can’t complain.”



(holyjoenamath.com)