[Buckskin86]

Whitner welcomed to Bills
Top draft pick is signed to a 5-year contract
Leo Roth
Staff writer

(August 6, 2006) — PITTSFORD — The Buffalo Bills have their first day off of training camp today and won't practice again at St. John Fisher College until Monday morning at 11.

For first-round draft pick Donte Whitner, however, class is in session.

"I feel I'm behind a little bit, but I'll be meeting with my position coach today and tomorrow and learning the things (I've missed)," Whitner said Saturday after signing a multi-year contract to end an eight-day holdout. "I'll come out Monday ready to go."

Whitner, a strong safety out of Ohio State and the No. 8 overall pick in April's NFL draft, was the highest unsigned pick and the only Bills player who hadn't reported.

With No. 14 pick Broderick Bunkley agreeing to terms with Philadelphia, only two first-round choices remain out: Arizona's Matt Leinart (No. 10) and Miami's Jason Allen (No. 16).

While Bills officials declined to disclose terms, Whitner confirmed his contract is for five seasons. It's believed to be worth at least $13.5 million in guaranteed salary and bonuses, putting the package in between deals handed Oakland strong safety Michael Huff, the seventh overall pick, and Detroit linebacker Ernie Sims, the ninth overall pick.

As of mid-Friday afternoon, Bills general manager Marv Levy described negotiations between lead negotiator Jim Overdorf and Cleveland-based agent Jonathan Hurst as stalemated. The sides were more than $1 million apart when the week began. By nightfall, a deal was struck.

What got it done?

"We'll, we've been close for awhile," Whitner said. "I was confident it would take care of itself. It was typical of negotiations, and that's true with everybody in the draft. Matt Leinart is going through it now. It wasn't one side being greedy, it was a matter of meeting in the middle."

Whitner flew to Rochester early Saturday morning but not in time to take part in practice. After a physical, he was put through a brief workout by trainer Bud Carpenter. He then signed autographs and met with the media.

Thanks to frequent phone conversations with veteran Troy Vincent and rookie Ashton Youboty, his Ohio State teammate the Bills drafted in the third round, Whitner kept up to date with what was transpiring at training camp.

He admitted that talking with Levy several times by phone and listening to the Pro Football Hall of Famer claim that he was falling behind and jeopardizing his chances of being a starter helped move the negotiations along.

"A little bit. When Marv speaks, you have to listen," Whitner said. "I feel I'm a quick learner and I know football. All concepts are the same, it's just a difference in terminology. I'm behind but once I get the ins and outs of this defense down, I'll be right in there with the rest of these guys."

Levy and coach Dick Jauron said it's possible that Whitner, who has missed a total of 14 practices of varying length, could get enough work in to be ready to participate in the first preseason game Saturday at Carolina.

Nobody on Saturday was handing Whitner the starting job over veteran free agent Matt Bowen, but it's clear the Bills are counting on the All-Big Ten performer to help their No. 29-ranked defense in both run and pass support.

"It's over with and it's full speed ahead for him," Levy said. "It's better if you're here from the beginning, but we'd rather look at the positives. I know he's eager to get going. Is he behind? Yes. He has a lot of ground to make up."

Jauron said he wasn't planning on giving Whitner the bulk of the repetitions at strong safety starting Monday but he would gradually work into the rotation and get his share. Clearly, by ending his holdout when he did, Whitner gave himself ample time to win the starting assignment.

"He'll start competing for the starting position as soon as he can get on the field," Jauron confirmed. "We've got to believe he's in good shape. He's a very dedicated athlete and focused on football. He's a serious player. We believe he'll go right to work and start competing."

Whitner, a solidly built 5-10, 204 pounds, follows Antoine Winfield and Nate Clements as recent Ohio State defensive backs to join the Bills as first-round picks. Over the past three seasons, he compiled 164 tackles and five interceptions.

Haggling over a contract isn't something Whitner looks forward to experiencing again anytime soon.

"Everybody who wants to be the best at what they do, once you miss some time (in camp), you feel it inside," he said. "It wasn't anybody telling me I needed to be here, I was telling me I needed to be here. I felt that a little bit, but I also knew there was a business side to football and once I got in, I'd catch up and compete for that starting job."

LROTH@DemocratandChronicle.com

Donte Whitner
Position: Strong safety.
Height/weight: 5-feet-10, 204 pounds.
College: Ohio State.
Background: First of two first-round picks for Bills, No. 8 overall. DT John McCargo (No. 26) was the other. A fearless hitter, possesses elite speed. He clocked 4.38 in the 40-yard dash and registered a 40-inch vertical leap for scouts. ... One of top prep players in country at Glenville High in Cleveland, he started 18 of 35 games at Ohio State, registering 144 tackles, five sacks and five interceptions.
The skinny: He's expected to start as a rookie, replacing departed veteran Lawyer Milloy on a unit in desperate need of a youth movement. ... Patterns his play after Philadelphia's Brian Dawkins and Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu. Can cover both tight ends and wide receivers from the slot, giving defense some needed versatility. Needs to work on technique and show he can support the run at NFL level. Has All-Pro potential.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/...35/1007/SPORTS