shelby
03-07-2010, 06:56 AM
As we have been discussing....
<!-- --> The Buffalo Bills' retention of two veteran safeties this week has increased speculation about the team's plans for Donte Whitner.
Neither of the safeties retained — George Wilson and Bryan Scott — are getting starter money at the moment. Scott signed a two-year deal for about $3 million. Wilson was retained as a restricted free agent with a one-year tender offer of $1.75 million.
But both have starting experience, and Wilson is coming off a good season in which he started 12 games at strong safety. The fact Wilson moved ahead of Whitner on the depth chart for two games in the second half of the season is the fuel for the speculation: Will the Bills' new regime deem Whitner expendable?
Whitner even got a flurry of messages from well-wishers on his Twitter account over the weekend regarding rumors he might get traded, all of which he seemed to take in stride.
"Just win, and it all goes away!" he responded.
And: "Just so people out there don't get it twisted. I do understand that people are upset about us as a team."
Jairus Byrd has a lock on the free-safety job. Wilson can play either safety spot. Scott is a strong safety.
Whitner opened the 2009 season as the Bills' starting free safety and held that spot for three games. But a thumb injury forced him to the sideline and Byrd into the free-safety spot. Byrd put a vice-grip on the job by intercepting eight passes in a five-game stretch and finishing the season with nine pickoffs, tied for the NFL lead.
read more... (http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/03/06/979421/whitners-status-with-bills-uncertain.html)
<!-- --> The Buffalo Bills' retention of two veteran safeties this week has increased speculation about the team's plans for Donte Whitner.
Neither of the safeties retained — George Wilson and Bryan Scott — are getting starter money at the moment. Scott signed a two-year deal for about $3 million. Wilson was retained as a restricted free agent with a one-year tender offer of $1.75 million.
But both have starting experience, and Wilson is coming off a good season in which he started 12 games at strong safety. The fact Wilson moved ahead of Whitner on the depth chart for two games in the second half of the season is the fuel for the speculation: Will the Bills' new regime deem Whitner expendable?
Whitner even got a flurry of messages from well-wishers on his Twitter account over the weekend regarding rumors he might get traded, all of which he seemed to take in stride.
"Just win, and it all goes away!" he responded.
And: "Just so people out there don't get it twisted. I do understand that people are upset about us as a team."
Jairus Byrd has a lock on the free-safety job. Wilson can play either safety spot. Scott is a strong safety.
Whitner opened the 2009 season as the Bills' starting free safety and held that spot for three games. But a thumb injury forced him to the sideline and Byrd into the free-safety spot. Byrd put a vice-grip on the job by intercepting eight passes in a five-game stretch and finishing the season with nine pickoffs, tied for the NFL lead.
read more... (http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/03/06/979421/whitners-status-with-bills-uncertain.html)