The news isn't shocking, but that doesn't mean it hurts any less.
According to the
Daily News,
Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma has been given permission to seek out
teams for a trade. The Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints are
reportedly interested, but I'm sure other teams will emerge, including
the Cincinnati Bengals.
Again,
it's news that I was expecting, but was unwillingly to face. Sure,
Vilma has struggled in Eric Mangini's 3-4 scheme and I
lashed out
in one of my Jet-induced rages this past season that the Green and
White should explore trading Vilma. Still, I can't get around the idea
of trading a former Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowler who will turn
just 26-years-old in 2008, but I'll give it a whirl. Let's quickly go
through the pros and cons of a potential deal.
PROS:Although
Vilma has played the good soldier, it's clear that he isn't in love
with Mangini's defensive system. Vilma has a good motor and tried like
hell to succeed in the 3-4, but his skills, size and style of play are
better suited in the 4-3. In his first two seasons in the NFL, Vilma
was a force and a playmaker on D. In the last year and a half, his
play has been pedestrian, at best. It doesn't look like the Jets are
going to scrap the 3-4, but luckily they have David Harris, who did a
tremendous job substituting for No. 51 last year, lined up to fill the
void.
Vilma is coming off knee surgery and may be slow to
rebound for the upcoming season. The procedure was reportedly a
complicated one and Vilma's status for training camp is uncertain.
Vilma
has one year left on his five-year deal and he's looking for another
long-term commitment. Given his disdain and lack of play-making
ability in the 3-4, it would seem unlikely that Vilma would re-sign
with Gang Green. Better to trade No. 51 and get something in return
instead of letting him just walk away.
CONS:It's
still unfathomable to me that Mangini and the Jets took one of the
rising stars at middle linebacker and robbed him of his game. Vilma's
strength is going sideline to sideline, but the Gotham Green had him
taking on guards in the 3-4. In fairness to the Jets, if you're a
playmaker it shouldn't matter what defensive scheme you're in, but
Mangini's stubbornness to implement his style instead of optimizing the
talent of players he had may have prematurely pulled the plug on
Vilma's career in New York.
Assuming that Vilma is healthy, why
not team him up with last season's rookie sensation David Harris? The
two could man the inside positions at linebacker in the 3-4 and help
lead a defensive resurgence for the Jets in 2008. Harris has already
proven that he has what it takes to succeed in the NFL and I have to
believe that Vilma would benefit from that. On the flip side, would
the two playing together create an uncomfortable situation for the
Jets? Vilma was the play-caller on defense before his injury and
Harris assumed those duties during his absence. Who would be calling
the shots if they were in the same huddle? Vilma is the more
experienced player and was a team captain last season, but Harris
played better in the system. It could be a touchy situation. Anyway,
it doesn't look like the Jets will have to worry about that, but it
would have been fun to watch No. 51 and No. 52 play side by side.
Word
on the street says the Jets could land a third-round pick for Vilma. A
third-round pick for a former No. 1? Doesn't seem like a fair trade
considering Vilma will turn just 26 this year. True, Vilma is coming
off knee surgery and that will undoubtedly hurt his stock, but it still
seems low considering the Jets received a fourth-round pick from the
Washington Redskins for 11-year veteran guard Pete Kendall last season.
Well,
my final tally has it deadlocked at 3 pros and 3 cons for trading
Vilma. Figures. I guess this isn't an easy decision. I would like to
see Vilma back in the Green and White for 2008 (and beyond), but in my
heart of hearts I knew it was a long shot. Since Vilma is in the final
year of his contract and coming off an injury, it would make sense for
the Jets to unload No. 51 and get something in return. Mangini isn't
going to implement the 4-3 and Vilma's play in the 3-4 has been subpar.
It may be the smart thing to do, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
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