Jonathan Vilma

Jonathan Polynice Vilma (born April 16, 1982) is an American football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He was originally drafted by the New York Jets 12th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Miami.

Early years
Vilma was born in Coral Gables, Florida to Haitian immigrant parents. He attended Coral Gables High School where he was a teammate of Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore and received scholarship offers from the University of Miami, Florida State, Florida, Pittsburgh and Iowa. He eventually chose the University of Miami.

2000 season
In 2000, Vilma played in all 11 games as a reserve middle linebacker and compiled 38 tackles (29 solo) and a pass deflection.

2001 season
After the graduation of Dan Morgan, Vilma stepped into the starting middle linebacker role and played an integral role on the Hurricanes' National Championship team. He led the team in tackles with 79 (54 solo) and compiled two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery for a 36-yard touchdown, three pass deflections and an interception. He started 11 of 12 games during the regular season and was selected on the First-Team All-Big East team.

2002 season
Vilma led the team in tackles with 133 (75 solo), and had two quarterback sacks, a forced fumble, recovered two fumbles, (returning one for a touchdown) and broke up five passes. He earned unanimous first-team All-Big East selection for the second time in his career and was semi-finalist for the Dick Butkus Award, along with teammate D.J. Williams.

2003 season
In his final year, Vilma led the team in tackles for a third time with 127 (81 solo), with one sack, forced one fumble, and recovered three fumbles. Vilma ended the year as a finalist for the Butkus Award.

Along with his success on the field, Vilma was a three-time Academic All-Big East Conference. He received a Bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Miami's School of Business Administration.

Vilma was interviewed about his time at the University of Miami for the documentary The U, which premiered December 12, 2009 on ESPN.

Combine

 * 4.65 40 Yard Dash
 * 37 Inch Vertical
 * 23 Bench Reps
 * 6.67 Three-Cone Drill
 * 4.20 Short Shuttle
 * 10-foot-1 Broad Jump

New York Jets
Vilma was drafted by the Jets with the 12th selection in the 2004 NFL Draft.

2004
In 2004, Vilma was named as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press. During his rookie campaign, he recorded 107 tackles, two sacks, and three interceptions, including one which was returned for his first NFL touchdown.

2005
In 2005, Vilma led the NFL in tackles with 169, forced four fumbles, notched one fumble recovery, half a sack, and one interception. Vilma also replaced Zach Thomas at the 2006 Pro Bowl.

2006
In 2006, Vilma put together another solid season. He compiled 114 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one interception.

2007
On October 27, 2007, Vilma was placed on injured reserve.He suffered a season ending knee injury during the New York Jets week 7 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Vilma was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in high school, a bone defect that can cause instability and loose particles in the joint, and this is a possible cause behind his season-ending injury in 2007.

New Orleans Saints
On February 29, 2008, the Jets traded Vilma to the New Orleans Saints for a fourth-round draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft and a conditional pick in the 2009 NFL Draft (ultimately a third-round pick). Jets then-head coach Eric Mangini elected to start linebackers Eric Barton and David Harris in his place.

In his first season with the Saints, Vilma was a bright spot on a weak defensive unit. Vilma played in all 16 games, and recorded 132 tackles with one sack.

On February 27, 2009, Vilma signed a five-year, 34 million-dollar contract with the New Orleans Saints.

On February 7, 2010, Vilma and the Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts to become Super Bowl XLIV Champions. Vilma made a key defensive audible and deflected a pass on 3rd and 11 in the fourth quarter to lead the Saints to their victory.

In the first game of the season, Jonathan Vilma intercepted a pass from Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre. The Saints later won the game 14–9.

Bounty scandal
Vilma was allegedly a central figure in the so-called New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, in which the NFL alleges he and several of his defensive teammates, and then-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams operated a pool which paid out "bounties" for deliberately trying to knock opposing players out of games. According to the league, Vilma offered $10,000 cash to anyone who knocked Favre out of the 2009 NFC Championship Game. Favre took a severe beating during that game, and was even forced out for one play with an ankle injury. Although as many as 27 Saints players were alleged to be involved, Vilma was the only player who was initially singled out by the league for his role.

On May 2, 2012, the NFL suspended Vilma for the entire 2012 season for his alleged role in the bounty program. The league claims that he and defensive end Will Smith helped Williams start the program in 2009. He will not be eligible for reinstatement until the end of Super Bowl XLVII. Vilma first found out about the suspension when it was announced on SportsCenter. He almost immediately announced that he would appeal, calling the suspension an "injustice" and adamantly denying that he was involved in any sort of bounty scheme. Since the initial sentencing by the NFL, Vilma has brought a personal slander suit against Roger Goodell. If his suspension is upheld on appeal, it will be the longest suspension related to in-game misconduct in modern NFL history, dwarfing the previous record of five games handed to Albert Haynesworth for stomping on Andre Gurode's head in 2006.

Most of the players who were the targets of questionable hits by the Saints, including Favre and Warner, claimed the bounties were merely part of the game. However, several former players interviewed by Sports Illustrated said that while payments for good hits and sacks were indeed considered part of the game, bounties for intentionally injuring opponents violated an unwritten code.

However on July 26, Vilma and seven witnesses from the Saints testified in front of a federal judge in New Orleans that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell got his facts wrong in the bounty scandal."Everybody was sworn in under oath in front of a judge with the risk of perjury and jail time if we were lying, and categorically denied there was a bounty," Vilma said in a text message to ESPN's Ed Werder. "Seven people testified, 2 sworn affidavits (one by Drew Brees) all saying the same thing. I ask that you and ESPN report the facts. No more bias or b.s. or hearsay. I gave you facts that you can report if so choose." Tulane University Sports Law Program Director Gabe Feldman (who attended the hearing in court) said, "Clearly the judge, by her questions, indicated she thinks Goodell overstepped his authority, and this case was always going to be about if he executed his power fairly... The NFL's retort is that with all due deference, you don't get to second guess (commissioner Roger Goodell). Judges only have limited jurisdiction over arbitration issues."

On September 7, Vilma's suspension was completely overturned and he was reinstated for the 2012 season. The Associated Press then reported Roger Goodell's disappointment in the determination of the arbitration board's ruling. Vilma met with Roger Goodell on September 17th to discuss allegations.

On October 9, 2012, four weeks and three days after an internal appeals panel vacated suspensions imposed on Vilma, Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, Saints defensive end Will Smith, and free-agent defensive end Anthony Hargrove, the league has again suspended the four Saints players, according to a league source. Vilma's suspension remained as the entire 2012 season, although he can keep his paychecks for the first six weeks of the season when he was on the Physically Unable to Perform list, Fujita's suspension was reduced from four games to three games, Smith will be suspended four games, and Hargrove had his suspension reduced from 8 games to 7 games. Hargrove also received credit of 5 games served since he is not currently signed with any team. If he is signed by a team, he will have to serve the remaining two games.

On December 11, 2012, former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue overruled Roger Goodell's punishments and vacated the suspensions of all the players involved in the alleged bounty scandal. Jonathan Vilma claimed he would continue to pursue his defamation law suit against commissioner Goodell. After Tagliabue's ruling to eliminate Goodell's suspensions, Vilma's teammate and co-captain Will Smith stated, “People actually think that we actually went out and did this, and we didn’t do this,” Smith said of the bounty program, adding that he had not decided whether to pursue any defamation claims of his own.“The only thing that was going on was a pay-for-performance that pretty much every other team in the league has and have had for years. That was it. I never participate in a bounty or put money down to injure another player or encourage other guys to injure other players.”

Career statistics
1NFL Leader (2005)

Personal life
Vilma is a spokesman for Under Armour and WaterBank of America USA Inc.

On March 31, 2009 two Liberian men were killed in a Long Island condominium owned by Vilma. Police believe that the victims may have been part of a black money scam, where the perpetrators claim that cash smuggled from overseas—stained black to avoid detection—can be purchased at a discount; in reality, what they offer is a trunk full of worthless paper. Vilma is not considered a suspect.

Vilma's parents, Fritz Vilma and Nelly Banatte, immigrated to the United States from Haiti in the 1970s. After the 2010 earthquake, he was active in relief efforts.

Vilma started The Jonathan Vilma Foundation after the 2010 Haiti earthquake to help assist with the rebuilding efforts in Haiti, in particular a charter school to educate students from elementary school to high school.