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Jonathan Vilma likely out for rest of Jets' season
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By RICH CIMINI
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Thursday, October 25th 2007, 4:00 AM
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Jonathan Vilma
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Despite their worst start since 1999, the Jets still hope to salvage something positive from this season. They probably will have to do it without one of their top players, Jonathan Vilma.
Their defensive leader faces the likelihood of season-ending knee surgery, the Daily News has learned. Vilma had a battery of tests the last two days, which revealed a "significant" injury, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Vilma is said to be mulling his options, but the prevailing feeling is that surgery is inevitable.
This was supposed to be a critical season for the talented inside linebacker, a first-round pick in 2004. His well-documented struggles in Eric Mangini's 3-4 system have fueled speculation that he could be traded in 2008, the final year of his contract. Obviously, a major injury will severely affect his trade value.
Vilma will be replaced by rookie David Harris, a second-round pick from Michigan.
It has been a strange few days for Vilma. He was hurt in Sunday's loss to the Bengals, according to Mangini, but he finished the game. The Jets apparently knew about the injury, raising questions about whether he made it worse by playing.
Mangini didn't reveal the injury until Monday. Ordinarily, the coach doesn't volunteer injury information, but he offered it when asked to explain why Vilma was removed for a handful of plays in the second half. He rarely comes off the field. Vilma took every defensive snap in 2006. The injury "dramatically affected" his play, Mangini said. Curiously, Vilma refused to acknowledge the injury Tuesday during his weekly radio spot on WFAN. The players are forbidden from discussing injuries, but Vilma went out of his way to shoot down the notion he was hurt. He almost sounded angry that he was pulled from the game. Vilma contradicted Mangini's version, saying he was removed because of a "coach's decision....It definitely wasn't because I was injured in the game. You have to ask the head man why I was taken out."
Vilma evidently went for an MRI exam later Monday, after his radio show, and received the sobering news. Yesterday, Vilma was excused from practice because he underwent "some more tests," Mangini said.
Asked about the conflicting views, Mangini said, "Sometimes you're going to see it differently as a player and as a coach." He lauded Vilma's toughness.
"John has a lot of Laveranues (Coles) in him, and you love that about him, you really do," Mangini said. "You respect that about him. Like Curtis Martin, (his attitude is), 'It doesn't matter what my status is in terms of physically, I'm going to play.'
"That's toughness. I appreciate that. Sometimes you have to look at it and say it's counterproductive, it's not helping even though you love the fact that they're trying."
Vilma never has missed a game in three-plus seasons. He's the "quarterback" of the defense, responsible for making the calls. He made the Pro Bowl as an alternate in 2005, but his production declined last season in the new defense.
Undersized for the 3-4, Vilma never complained. He vowed to improve this season, but he has registered only 39 tackles (fifth on the team) in seven games. He also has interception.
BAKER BACK: TE Chris Baker, who missed last week's game because of a back injury, practiced on a limited basis. Baker said he wasn't left behind as a punitive measure for criticizing the play-calling after the previous week's loss. "They would never do that," he said. "We want to win. That had nothing to do with it."...LB Matt Chatham, a strong special teams player and sign stealer, is likely to be activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list....The Nov.18 home game against the Steelers, originally scheduled for 1 p.m., has been moved to 4:05.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By RICH CIMINI
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Thursday, October 25th 2007, 4:00 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Print Email Suggest a Story
Jonathan Vilma
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click here to play JETS Pick'em
Read Rich Cimini's The Jets Stream
Despite their worst start since 1999, the Jets still hope to salvage something positive from this season. They probably will have to do it without one of their top players, Jonathan Vilma.
Their defensive leader faces the likelihood of season-ending knee surgery, the Daily News has learned. Vilma had a battery of tests the last two days, which revealed a "significant" injury, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Vilma is said to be mulling his options, but the prevailing feeling is that surgery is inevitable.
This was supposed to be a critical season for the talented inside linebacker, a first-round pick in 2004. His well-documented struggles in Eric Mangini's 3-4 system have fueled speculation that he could be traded in 2008, the final year of his contract. Obviously, a major injury will severely affect his trade value.
Vilma will be replaced by rookie David Harris, a second-round pick from Michigan.
It has been a strange few days for Vilma. He was hurt in Sunday's loss to the Bengals, according to Mangini, but he finished the game. The Jets apparently knew about the injury, raising questions about whether he made it worse by playing.
Mangini didn't reveal the injury until Monday. Ordinarily, the coach doesn't volunteer injury information, but he offered it when asked to explain why Vilma was removed for a handful of plays in the second half. He rarely comes off the field. Vilma took every defensive snap in 2006. The injury "dramatically affected" his play, Mangini said. Curiously, Vilma refused to acknowledge the injury Tuesday during his weekly radio spot on WFAN. The players are forbidden from discussing injuries, but Vilma went out of his way to shoot down the notion he was hurt. He almost sounded angry that he was pulled from the game. Vilma contradicted Mangini's version, saying he was removed because of a "coach's decision....It definitely wasn't because I was injured in the game. You have to ask the head man why I was taken out."
Vilma evidently went for an MRI exam later Monday, after his radio show, and received the sobering news. Yesterday, Vilma was excused from practice because he underwent "some more tests," Mangini said.
Asked about the conflicting views, Mangini said, "Sometimes you're going to see it differently as a player and as a coach." He lauded Vilma's toughness.
"John has a lot of Laveranues (Coles) in him, and you love that about him, you really do," Mangini said. "You respect that about him. Like Curtis Martin, (his attitude is), 'It doesn't matter what my status is in terms of physically, I'm going to play.'
"That's toughness. I appreciate that. Sometimes you have to look at it and say it's counterproductive, it's not helping even though you love the fact that they're trying."
Vilma never has missed a game in three-plus seasons. He's the "quarterback" of the defense, responsible for making the calls. He made the Pro Bowl as an alternate in 2005, but his production declined last season in the new defense.
Undersized for the 3-4, Vilma never complained. He vowed to improve this season, but he has registered only 39 tackles (fifth on the team) in seven games. He also has interception.
BAKER BACK: TE Chris Baker, who missed last week's game because of a back injury, practiced on a limited basis. Baker said he wasn't left behind as a punitive measure for criticizing the play-calling after the previous week's loss. "They would never do that," he said. "We want to win. That had nothing to do with it."...LB Matt Chatham, a strong special teams player and sign stealer, is likely to be activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list....The Nov.18 home game against the Steelers, originally scheduled for 1 p.m., has been moved to 4:05.
