Big news for Gang Green today as the Detroit Free Press is reporting that Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma was in Detroit today for a physical. How does that work exactly with a player rehabbing from surgery? Are they just looking for structural stability? I don’t have the answer, though according to Vilma’s web site, he has begun jogging and hopes to be running at full speed in about a month.

Last week we told you that the Jets had given their defensive captain permission to seek a trade, as rookie David Harris proved a better fit for Eric Mangini’s 3-4 scheme during Vilma’s injury absence last season. The Jaguars, Saints, and Rams had all been mentioned as possible destinations for the linebacker, however, one would have to assume that Detroit has emerged as the frontrunner at this point.

According to JetsCentral, Gang Green has expressed an interest in Lions nose tackle Shaun Rogers, who has also been linked to the Broncos. This report would mesh with an earlier one that Denver had explored a trade for Jets defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson, whom the Jets would be looking to replace at the nose if they were able to acquire Rogers. Naturally the Broncos, like the Jets, would prefer Rogers to Robertson, however evidently Denver has targeted Dewayne as a backup plan should the Jets snare Rogers from Detroit.

Player-for-player swaps are rare in the NFL, so it will be interesting to see how this all plays out.