Jonathan Vilma tries to tackle me on Twitter (missed)
Just because Jonathan Vilma can fly doesn't mean can get away with everything.
It’s not pretty when a person becomes so desperate and is caught up in denial that he turns delusional. That appears to be the case with New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma.
Earlier today, I sent out a link to ex-Saint Anthony Hargrove’s declaration to the NFL that he was told to lie by assistant coach Gregg Williams and Joe Vitt in 2010 about the existence of the team’s “bounty” program.
That three page declaration, obtained by Yahoo, is listed below. It clearly illustrates the dishonesty and coverup in the Saints’ organization about the program, and as we’ve learned lies and coverups can lead to greater penalties that the crimes themselves might have resulted in.
Anyway, the one thing I didn’t expect to happen was that Vilma and I would get into a back-and-forth on Twitter. Vilma has been suspended for the entire 2012 season. He and NFLPA consider this NFL investigation a bunch of hooey. I’ve weighed on that here.
Meanwhile, back to the Twitter debate . . .
• Poking Tweet from @JeffSchultzAJC: Hey NFLPA and @JonVilma51, check this out (via Yahoo): http://yhoo.it/ISiYn0
• Response from @JonVilma51: he denied the existence of a bounty program…wats ur point. Nowhere does it say there was a bounty program. Ur reaching.
• Me again (imagine flabbergasted look): It says he was told to lie by coaches. Why would he be told to lie about program that didn’t exist? Can’t wait for your answer.
• Reader @Clete27 is among those who chimes in: Rea@JeffSchultzAJC @JonVilma51 If it didn’t exist, why was he instructed (repeatedly) to deny its existence?
• Vilma responds again: @Clete27 @jeffschultzajc I’m sorry if by responding to u, u thot I cared wat u think. U make no decisions in my world Idc wat u think
My role here is not to try to make sense of Vilma’s response, but merely to mock.
Hargrove, who now plays for Green Bay, was suspended for eight games. He admits to lying to the NFL back in 2010 when asked about the program the first time and recently came clean.
Here are two excerpts from Hargrove’s declaration that I find particularly interesting:
• Coach Vitt also told me that I should deny the existence of any bounty or bounty program, and he told me to remember that he was the person who “brought [me] into the League and brought [me] to the Saints.”
• The meeting lasted approximately 30 minutes, and during that time both Coach Williams and Coach Vitt told me that I should deny the existence of any bounty or bounty program to the NFL. Williams and Vitt repeatedly stated that they “care about me and … if we all stay on the same page about this, it will blow over.” They told me that when the NFL asked me about any bounty or bounty program, I should “just play dumb.”
The meeting was held on or before Feb. 24, 2010. Hargrove’s declaration was signed and dated April 13, 2012.
I’ll let you know if there are any updates on this Twitter debate.
But I can’t promise anything. Unlike Vilma, I actually have a job next season.
By Jeff Schultz
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261 comments Add your comment
Reid Adair
May 7th, 2012
4:30 pm
Jonathan Vilma has obviously not heard that old saying, “The truth shall set you free.”
thejama
May 7th, 2012
4:32 pm
Good stuff Jeff! It is obvious that Vilma still thinks he did nothing wrong. And hey, he more than likely is being made an example of. It couldn’t of happened to a better team LMAO I also like that they are telling everyone that this has tightened the group and created and us vs the world mentality….until they start losing that is and THAT, my fellow Falcon fans, is when the fun really begins.
Benjamin
May 7th, 2012
4:34 pm
Gregg Williams did indeed order the Code Red.
I wonder if he gave Goodell a “You want me on that wall. You NEED me on that wall!” speech at some point in the proceedings…
GetaLife
May 7th, 2012
4:34 pm
It is freaking Twitter. Who gives a crap how he types. What you jackholes need to concerned about is trading for a player with half of Vilma’s talent.
Falcons Fan1
May 7th, 2012
4:35 pm
When all is said and done… they still have a Super Bowl Championship that we do not have so lets quit the whining and bring one home!
Damage Inc.
May 7th, 2012
4:35 pm
they sure aren’t getting a 2nd round pick! hardeeharhar
Who Dat
May 7th, 2012
4:38 pm
Falcons Fan Quote “they still have a Super Bowl Championship that we do not have”…
LOL – ain’t THAT the truth! WHO DAT!!!???
I hate Cheaters
May 7th, 2012
4:41 pm
The Taints!!! I love it!!!
Vilma can’t own the Falcons from the sidelines…………
boykin
May 7th, 2012
4:41 pm
Awesome, Jeff!
Damage Inc.
May 7th, 2012
4:42 pm
who dat- it’s more like Super Bowl Championship*
*got caught lying, cheating, and covering up
I hate Cheaters
May 7th, 2012
4:43 pm
I think there needs to be an asterisk on the 2010 Aints championship. I know there will be in my book!!! CHEATERS!!!!!!!!!
Who Dat Saints
May 7th, 2012
4:43 pm
Benjamin… 1st pick??? Are you serious? Our defense was our weakness which we significally upgraded(thanks for Lofton, he will be great). Hawthorne was the Seahawks’ best linebacker and we picked him up too! I cannot believe you Falcon fans are delusional enough to think you will be any better this year… Matt is the same pathetic quarterback and your defense is still terrible. Good luck!!!
Damage Inc.
May 7th, 2012
4:45 pm
please choose plastic, please choose plastic, please choose plastic….
WHO DAT BLACK
May 7th, 2012
4:48 pm
@1st grade teacher,
Vilma restructured his contract and received a $1 million bonus instead of a larger salary than what was scheduled. However, it is what it is. Schultz has a job. Tell me this, Jeff, will you do your best write a blog describing the fall of the Falcons and the Saints Super Bowl run this year?? If so, I care about you in my world.
Really?
May 7th, 2012
4:48 pm
Everyone knows the NFL gifted the super bowl to the taint’s. LOL No one at all outside of the cesspool known as Loserania thinks the taint’s actually deserved to be called super bowl champs. Now it’s official. new orleans cheated and lied and shamelessly used pity to be handed a super bowl they didn’t deserve. LOL LOL LOL
It looks like the city of drunks and crackheads that is new orleans has finally cashed in their last katrina pity card and will actually have to earn something for the first time in nearly a decade. I guess we will get to see how good the taint’s are when the refs don’t look the other way on all the late hits and cheap shots. How will they do now that the playing field is even and the nfl doesn’t force refs to throw flags agains opposing teams. It will be hilarious to watch every team get their payback against little boy brees. Why do you think the taint’s won’t give him a contract? The don’t expect him to make it through the year.
SawThat1nce
May 7th, 2012
4:49 pm
One thing that is for sure, IF, the “dirty-saints” are ever able to win another SB, they will have to earn it, on their own.
Because the NFL will never hand the “dirty-saints” another SB, like they did in 2009, when the NFL gave them the SB.
The saints organization is a dirty, low-class, gang of thugs.
They got off way to easy. Goodell should have at least, doubled the penalties on this scumbag outfit.
Boo Brees
May 7th, 2012
4:49 pm
Aww man this ain’t good…. Aww this ain’t good at all !!!! I’m gonna get my back slammed clean out of shape.
Thanks a lot Jeff, what am I gonna do about my legs??!!
Damage Inc.
May 7th, 2012
4:51 pm
The only super bowl running you’ll be doing is concessions and parking.
Damage Inc.
May 7th, 2012
4:54 pm
how exactly do you crop dust a city with febreeze?
Who Dat
May 7th, 2012
4:54 pm
I absolutely cannot wait for Brees and Graham, Colston and Moore to TORCH Duntae Robinson and Grimes again this season! I don’t care if you signed that overage, overhyped Samuel or not!
WHO DAT?!
Who Dat Saints
May 7th, 2012
4:55 pm
Haha the NFL gave the Saints the Super Bowl… Wow, I thought Falcon fans could not get any more special than they are but they have proved me wrong… They gifted the Super Bowl to the Saints haha! Do you fans really think that? I must admit the people of Atlanta must be some “special” group of people… SMH
Dirty Bird
May 7th, 2012
4:56 pm
Whoa, it appears Mayor Nagin’s bunch from NOLA are taking over the Falcons vent! #DesperateCheaters
Really?
May 7th, 2012
4:57 pm
Only the drubks and junkies in new orleans would be so pathetic that they are not ashamed that everyone knos they are liars and cheaters and were gifted a super bowl. I guess when you live off the pity and handouts of others you lose the ability to have any pride in actually earning something.
All the who dats know they have earned nothing. You were not super bowl champs and no one thinks you are. It was bad enough when everyone just assumed pity due to your drunken stupidity got you a pass to the super bowl but now we all know you lied and cheated too. Everyone in new orleans was already seen as a pathetic wretch and now add liar and cheater and ungrateful idiot to the long list of humiliating tags to add to the trash that lives in that sewer.
Beast from the East
May 7th, 2012
5:02 pm
“Unlike Vilma, I actually have a job next season.”
That cuts straight to the bone, Jeff. Kudos!
Really?
May 7th, 2012
5:08 pm
The nfl admits they did not flag blatant late hits on Farvre that allowed the taint’s to advance to the super bowl. If that’s not a gift what do you call it? I’m sorry I forgot who I was addressing. Everyone in new orleans lives off of pity and handouts and welfare. LOL Of course you don’t think it was a gift because you can’t remember the last time you actually earned something for yourself. Most people would feel shame at having to depend on others for everything but the average new orleans citizen just asks for more.
admiral
May 7th, 2012
5:09 pm
Schultz, your parting show to Vilma on this thing was a shot of beauty.
Let the Saints fans on here blow off some steam by screaming about their Super Bowl championship…it’s gonna be a long, long time before they’re going to have that chance again. I’m just glad the whole world now knows what our division already knew – that these guys are dirty.
bucket
May 7th, 2012
5:10 pm
Schultze is an equal opportunity offender and has had this Dawg fan enraged on more than one occassion. However, on this subject some of you need to be a little more reasonable. Shultze is a sportswriter and an athlete that has been a hot topic of discussion recently responded to a tweet he put out. Do you think he’s not going to write about that? Duh!
admiral
May 7th, 2012
5:11 pm
whoops – shot*
sorry, typing in a hurry here
bucket
May 7th, 2012
5:11 pm
oops! sorry for the e at the end of Shultz. I have a friend that spells it that way.
ajc sports fan
May 7th, 2012
5:12 pm
Never back down Jeff..fight like hell for info..Thanks for great job.
dudah
May 7th, 2012
5:13 pm
Vilma is clearly an illiterate idiot…but it’s all about the U, right
Joey
May 7th, 2012
5:14 pm
Jessica = Jonathan Vilma
AGTFan53
May 7th, 2012
5:15 pm
There is no reason to trash an entire city because their professional football franchise got caught cheating and then lying about their cheating. The truth is that Witt should have been suspended for the season for instructing a player to lie to the NFL investigators. Vilma should have been kicked out of the NFL for life. The Saints got off far easier than they should have. I think Goodel showed too much restraint.
Who Dat Saints
May 7th, 2012
5:15 pm
“Really?” The way your speaking my special friend, it seems like your the one who is trashy and boneheaded… I hope all Atlanta fans are not like yourself or you all must live very miserable lives. I am sorry you live in your mother’s basement and the only love you get is with your hand. I truly feel sorry for you…
Falcons12
May 7th, 2012
5:16 pm
Its about football and always be. Not the sophomoric rationalizations about the state of a city or katrina or gifted superbowl championship or how some mult-millionaire responds to a reporter on twitter. If I am correct the falcons actually missed the playoffs in 2009. How we have anything to comment about that season outside of missing the playoffs is beyond me.
Mr Smiley
May 7th, 2012
5:17 pm
@ AGTFan53…you’re right, there is no reason to trash an entire city over some football issues…they NOLA citizens did that themselves.
Impartial Football Fan
May 7th, 2012
5:19 pm
I have to say whether it is fair or not, most football fans outside of the Saint’s fan base don’t think their Super Bowl win counts. I visit lots of football message boards and the overwhelming majority of posters think New Orleans did not win the super bowl. At least people in your state think you won it though so that is something.
Boo Brees
May 7th, 2012
5:19 pm
Thank goodness for the Falcons. Apparentley we have nothing else going for us other than a Super Bowl title we couldn’t defend. We get bounced from the playoffs every year even against teams with a losing record. Even with all those points we can score, we just can’t score enough. I guess as long as we can score more than 2 pts and beat the Falcons and occasionly win a playoff game….. then we are the best! Even though we get bounced from the playoffs every year too.
It’s just that we look pretty when we lose
Mr Smiley
May 7th, 2012
5:21 pm
There will always be an asterisk with the saints SB win, just like there will always be an asterisk on the patriots SB wins, just like there will always be an asterisk on MLB years from 1990-2005. Don’t cheat and there are no asterisks geniuses.
Who Dat Saints
May 7th, 2012
5:25 pm
News Alert… The Saints Super Bowl is tainted because they hit the other teams to hard… What has football become? It amazes me how the Rival team’s fans come up with excuses because their team cannot succeed! WHO DAT
Average New Orleans Guy
May 7th, 2012
5:28 pm
I may be alone, but this Saint’s fan does not think we deserve to be called Super Bowl Champions. I am ashamed that so many of my fellow citizens of New Orleans claim something that we cheated to get. I work hard at my job and don’t take charity and I wish I could say the same for more of my neighbors.
As much as it pains me to say it, way too many people here do use the Katrina disaster as a means to get sympathy and charity. Believe me people like seen thisb4 and all the who dats are not true representatives of my city. I truly believe they are probably just band wagon fans anyway.
Terry
May 7th, 2012
5:29 pm
Sherlock Holmes, Let me ask you this, if there never was a bounty program, why did assistant coach Gregg Williams, and Joe Vitt, feel the need to tell Anthony Hargrove’s to deny its very existence? If you can’t figure the answer out to that, you’re an idiot. The only reason they would need him to deny its existence, would be, because he was a part of the bounty program to begin with.
Boo Brees
May 7th, 2012
5:30 pm
Last 2 playoff seasons:
Ryan lost to Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning.
Brees lost to Seahawk QB’s and Alex Smith.
Really?
May 7th, 2012
5:34 pm
who dat saints
It’s funny you brought up living in basements. My aunt actually hosted some katrina victims in her basement after the tragedy despite her sons complaints. The trash that took advantage of her pity ran up her phone bill into the thousands of dollars, they trashed her basement and stole all the electronics they could get their hands on before she finally had to call the cops and have them removed. Classy crowd over there in new orleans.
AlanFalcon
May 7th, 2012
5:35 pm
I hope there are enough brown bags in N-Oleans to fill the stadium, it just goes to show you if you can’t win with class, you can’t win !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is except for the N-Oleans way !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spike 80DF
May 7th, 2012
5:37 pm
too bad Cam Newton doesn’t play for the Aints, he’d fit in well with that crowd…..
Boo Brees
May 7th, 2012
5:38 pm
@SeenThisB4- Thank You Capt. Obvious. And?
Terry
May 7th, 2012
5:39 pm
Who Dat Saints, Its against the Law, when you pay someone to intentionally injure someone, and that my friend will land you in jail. Just ask Tonya Harding.
Roll Tide
May 7th, 2012
5:40 pm
What is the point of this article? This guy gets paid to write about his twitter conversations?
Who Dat Saints
May 7th, 2012
5:41 pm
“Really?”
I am sure that story actually happened. I myself understand New Orleans has some horrid areas(show me a city that does not) but to state all people of New Orleans or around the city are the same way just shows your way of thinking which is truly childish. Your probably live a miserable life and it is sad that you represent the people of Atlanta.