Whitner glad for break from non-stop football
By RODNEY MCKISSIC
News Sports Reporter
11/1/2006
For more than a year it's been all about football for Donte Whitner, so the Buffalo Bills rookie used the bye week to catch his breath.
"The first year is tough and it's almost like playing two seasons in one," Whitner said. "Last year I went straight from camp at Ohio State to the season to training for the NFL Combine to the [organized team activities]. You really don't get any rest."
His play at safety in the first seven games indicates Whitner deserved to put up his feet and relax.
He finished with a career best 11 tackles, including nine solos, against Chicago and in his first start against Miami, Whitner broke up a two-point conversion pass in the fourth quarter that ended the Dolphins' chances of a comeback. Whitner, the league's Defensive Rookie of the Month in September, is third on the team with 49 tackles.
The numbers don't reflect it, but Whitner admits he's a bit drained.
"That's why your first season is tough, that's why you hit that rookie wall," he said. "I'm starting to get a little tired, my body is getting a little tired, so I'm trying to get more rest than I did at the beginning of the season. I did need this week to recover . . . and now I'm going to go into the second half of the season and step it up a notch."? ? ?
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