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Dispatch

8/6/06

NFL NOTEBOOK

Whitner ready to work after signing with Bills

Sunday, August 06, 2006


ASSOCIATED PRESS




Rookie safety Donte Whitner signed with the Buffalo Bills yesterday. The next step is seeing how quickly the No. 8 pick in the NFL draft can begin competing for a starting job.

"I’m a little behind," Whitner said after signing a five-year deal and joining the team at its training camp site in suburban Rochester, N.Y. "But once I get in, I’ll be a quick learner."

He’ll have to be because Whitner has plenty of catching up to do after missing the first eight days of camp. The Bills’ preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers is next Saturday.

"I know he’s eager to get going right now," general manager Marv Levy said. "Yes, he is behind and has a lot of ground to make up."

The Ohio State product had been the top drafted player still unsigned and only one of three first-round selections not under contract.

Without disclosing financial terms, Whitner said the two sides met in the middle in guaranteed money after the player was seeking $14 million, and the Bills had offered $12.9 million as of Wednesday.

Whitner wanted to be paid closer to the $15 million guaranteed as part of a five-year deal safety Michael Huff — the No. 7 pick — signed with Oakland in July because the two play the same position. The No. 9 pick, linebacker Ernie Sims, received $12.1 million guaranteed as part of a fiveyear contract with Detroit.
The deal, which was agreed to Friday night, came after Levy had referred to the two sides as being at "a stalemate."

CPD

8/6/06

Buffalo's Whitner lands quite a deal


Sunday, August 06, 2006

Roger Brown
Plain Dealer Columnist

Former Ohio State and Glenville High star defensive back Donte Whitner has plenty of reasons - yes, millions - to smile about his newly signed contract with the Buffalo Bills.

Whitner, taken No. 8 overall in April's NFL Draft, not only has a deal worth nearly $29 million - he's got one for five years, which will make him a free agent sooner than numerous first-round picks who signed for six years (including Browns linebacker Kamerion Wimbley).

Whitner's deal is almost 15 percent higher than that of last season's No. 8 pick, Antrel Rolle of Arizona. Among other goodies in Whitner's contract:

He'll make $12 million more than the rookie taken one pick after him (Ernie Sims of Detroit) and nearly $4 million more than the player selected two spots before him (Vernon Davis of San Francisco).

He'll make nearly $4 million more than Wimbley - even though Wimbley's deal has an extra year. Whitner's deal was negotiated by NC Sports, which counts Browns punter Dave Zastudil among its numerous clients.