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 played college football for the University of Miami , and was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft . 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 . University of Miami . Vilma received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Miami , and played for coach Butch Davis and coach Larry Coker ' s Miami Hurricanes football teams from 2000 to 2003 . 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 . Professional career . 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 . " NFL Leader ( 2005 ) " Personal life . Vilma is a spokesman for Under Armour and WaterBank of America USA Inc . On March 31 , 2009 two Liberia n 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 .