Saints Linebacker Coach, Joe Vitt, May Have Saved His Job By Tearing His ACL Chasing Away Car Theives

Sporting News- Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt was injured while chasing car thieves outside his home early Saturday morning.

As first reported by Canal Street Chronicles, Vitt suffered a broken wrist and torn Achilles in a failed attempt to chase two people who were breaking into Vitt's car, as well as a neighbor's vehicle in Old Metairie in New Orleans.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed the report Tuesday. Vitt, 61, saw a shadow move across his front lawn around 3:50 a.m. Saturday, Sheriff's Office spokesman Col. John Fortunato said, via the New Orleans Advocate.

Vitt, who has been on the Saints coaching staff since 2006, went outside and found a blonde woman in khaki shorts and wearing gloves about to enter his neighbor's unlocked car. Vitt also noticed a man inside of his own vehicle. When the burglars noticed Vitt, they started to run away with Vitt giving chase until he fell and was injured.
 
Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said Vitt is fine and didn't miss any work as a result of his injuries. 



You know, over the last decade or so the Saints linebacking corps have been, to put a mildly, a dumpster fire of sorts. There has been a great one here and there. Jonathan Vilma was an imperative piece to winning the Super Bowl in 2009. Stephone Anthony looks to a nice up and coming player that has the potential to lead a defense. However, generally speaking the position has remained much more of a weakness than it was ever a strength . So much so, in fact, that it has led many people to believe that the team would be better off without Joe Vitt coaching them. For a brief moment (multiple seasons), I was one of those people. However, upon hearing the news that he tore his ACL and injured his hand chasing away car thieves, I think I am ready to sign him to lifelong contract.

You can't just coach football players by telling them what to do. You have to be willing to show them. You have to willing to lead by example. You can't be a linebacker coach that stands in your kitchen and calls the police when you see someone attempting to steal your, or your neighbor's, car. How can you motivate your players to take on blocks if you won't even take on a blonde broad in white gloves that's trying to steal a $45,000, conservatively speaking for an NFL coach, piece of machinery.  Basically what I am saying is that you're not going to fail to set the edge when the man that is telling you to do so was up at 4AM chasing down potentially armed criminals. I can't, in my heart of hearts, blame Joe Vitt for the mediocrity of the Saints linebackers over the past 9 years when it appears he is exactly what a linebacker coach should be. An aggressive, confrontational dude that doesn't let anyone take what's rightfully his. That's the kind of man you need coaching up your defense on the sidelines, whether he's on crutches or not. You need the linebacker coach that tears his ACL and doesn't miss a day of work. They probably had to beg him just to get treatment. Joe Vitt would rather be forced into a hospital visit than take shit from anyone, and I think that bodes well for the careers of Stephone Anthony and Hau'oli Kikaha. Heal up Joe, the boys are looking a little lazy attacking the ball carrier...