Whitner gone?

[BillsVet]

Tom Condon is his agent, who happens to be one of the heavy hitters among the NFL circle. It wouldn't surprise me if TC is running a hard line, but the way DW goes about expressing his feelings is unprofessional. What's interesting here is that some people continue to believe in Whitner AND the Bills front office. So, if the execs decide not to re-sign DW, who's in the wrong then?

[The Dean]

Tom Condon is his agent, who happens to be one of the heavy hitters among the NFL circle. It wouldn't surprise me if TC is running a hard line, but the way DW goes about expressing his feelings is unprofessional. What's interesting here is that some people continue to believe in Whitner AND the Bills front office. So, if the execs decide not to re-sign DW, who's in the wrong then?

 

 

Why would anyone have to "be in the wrong" if the deal isn't done? Sometimes things simply aren't right for both sides. If Whitner can get big money elsewhere, and it doesn't make sense for the Bills to pay that much, why is anyone in the wrong here?

[Rico]

So long, good luck, and goodbye Lil Donte.

[McBeane]

Why would anyone have to "be in the wrong" if the deal isn't done? Sometimes things simply aren't right for both sides. If Whitner can get big money elsewhere, and it doesn't make sense for the Bills to pay that much, why is anyone in the wrong here?

 

Because he is just dying to be right.

[VADC Bills]

wasn't it just like two weeks ago they were working on a extension, and not talking with Poz? So does this mean they are talkng with Poz? Or maybe just means Whitner thinks he is worth $18M guaranteed, and $5M per year, and Bills think more like $10M and $3M (i am just making those numbers up).

 

I have a feeling this team will do nothing until the CBA is resolved

Based on performance Whitner and Poz are very replacable. Both weren't missed very much when they were injured last year.

Whitner has shown he could hit this year in fact I believe he is the best hitter on the defense but I don't see anyone breaking the bank for him. Poz I wish he would hit like Whitner but he doesn't he is smallish and soft. We haven't had a good defense since he has been here and he is a big reason why.

[The Dean]

Based on performance Whitner and Poz are very replacable. Both weren't missed very much when they were injured last year.

Whitner has shown he could hit this year in fact I believe he is the best hitter on the defense but I don't see anyone breaking the bank for him. Poz I wish he would hit like Whitner but he doesn't he is smallish and soft. We haven't had a good defense since he has been here and he is a big reason why.

 

 

One of the big problems with many defensive players these days is the desire to make "big hits" instead of sound tackles.

[Coach Tuesday]

You people amaze me. Folks take as a given that FAs don't want to sign with the Bills because of orgnizational suckitude, geographical lameness, and insanely high taxes. So the Bills are always going to have to pay a premium just to have a shot. And now they have a chance to pay a premium and keep a key, young player, and the luddites are chasing him out with pitchforks. How are they gonna fill all of these holes if they can't sign free agents? The draft isn't enough, there are too many holes and new holes open every year. You all are insane.

[Rico]

You people amaze me. Folks take as a given that FAs don't want to sign with the Bills because of orgnizational suckitude, geographical lameness, and insanely high taxes. So the Bills are always going to have to pay a premium just to have a shot. And now they have a chance to pay a premium and keep a key, young player, and the luddites are chasing him out with pitchforks. How are they gonna fill all of these holes if they can't sign free agents? The draft isn't enough, there are too many holes and new holes open every year. You all are insane.

I predict he will sign with the Vikings and make the Pro Bowl within 2-3 years.

[Coach Tuesday]

I predict he will sign with the Vikings and make the Pro Bowl within 2-3 years.

 

I predict he signs in the division. The reaction here will be, Good, we get to play against that scrub twice a year. That reaction will be short-lived.

[Dragonborn10]

Why this team can't keep a good Defensive Back for many years?

Remember Winfield, Clements, Greer and now Whitner.

So enjoy Jairus Byrd for the next 2 season, cause he will going to go elsewhere.

Oh no you didn't.....

 

Don't dishonor Winfield, Clements, and Greer by lumping Whitner with them. They were much much better players. No way Whitner sees 1/10th of the offers the others got.

[Tcali]

The redskins have an eye for talent like whitner

[Orton's Arm]

I would say re: Whitner:

 

1. Talks too mich, and doens't back it up. So what, just play please.

2. Lots of tackles due to a horrible front seven: Not his fault, and again, not impressed.

3. Hands os stone, no INTS.

4. Seems to get beat deep, and a liability in pass coverage.

5. SS of his ability are a dime a dozen and he will not be missed.

6. Upgrade position if possible.

 

 

He's an average player on a bad defense, and will not be missed IMHO.

I agree with the above for the most part. Whitner is a good hitter and a good tackler, which is something you like to see in your SS. I'm even willing to forgive his hands of stone. Antoine Winfield also had hands of stone, and was an excellent CB for the Bills and Vikings. But what I can't forgive him for is being a liability in pass coverage. Any time you pick a SS 8th overall, you need to be able to put him one-on-one against the better TEs in the league and be okay. With Whitner you can't.

 

Some aspects of George Wilson's game are better than Whitner's, which is why last season Whitner had been benched for a while in favor of Wilson. Whitner's having a better year this year than last year. Possibly that's because the new defense is a good fit for him. Or maybe it's because he thinks of this season as the season he's supposed to get his big contract. But whatever the reason, I'm not necessarily convinced that replacing Whitner with Wilson would lead to a huge drop-off in the quality of play at SS. The bigger toll would be on the Bills' depth at the safety position. While it's never good to lose depth, I'm not so worried about the depth at the SS position that I feel the urge to overpay Whitner, or offer him top-15 SS money.

[San-O]

I agree with the above for the most part. Whitner is a good hitter and a good tackler, which is something you like to see in your SS. I'm even willing to forgive his hands of stone. Antoine Winfield also had hands of stone, and was an excellent CB for the Bills and Vikings. But what I can't forgive him for is being a liability in pass coverage. Any time you pick a SS 8th overall, you need to be able to put him one-on-one against the better TEs in the league and be okay. With Whitner you can't.

 

Some aspects of George Wilson's game are better than Whitner's, which is why last season Whitner had been benched for a while in favor of Wilson. Whitner's having a better year this year than last year. Possibly that's because the new defense is a good fit for him. Or maybe it's because he thinks of this season as the season he's supposed to get his big contract. But whatever the reason, I'm not necessarily convinced that replacing Whitner with Wilson would lead to a huge drop-off in the quality of play at SS. The bigger toll would be on the Bills' depth at the safety position. While it's never good to lose depth, I'm not so worried about the depth at the SS position that I feel the urge to overpay Whitner, or offer him top-15 SS money.

 

 

Right. Also seems a lot of posters want to compare him to the "lock_down" corners the Bills have lost the past few years, which I don't understand. Again, Whitner was not even a starter all of last year. I would like to see an upgrade there if

possible.

 

I'm OK with the secondary for the most part. McGee and Florence are getting older. I like Byrd, however don't want to see

McLuvin in a starting role. Too many mental errors, and costs the team too often IMO.

[BillsVet]

Based on performance Whitner and Poz are very replacable. Both weren't missed very much when they were injured last year.

Whitner has shown he could hit this year in fact I believe he is the best hitter on the defense but I don't see anyone breaking the bank for him. Poz I wish he would hit like Whitner but he doesn't he is smallish and soft. We haven't had a good defense since he has been here and he is a big reason why.

 

Replaceability factor is huge here. Should the team pay a SS 5M per who provides marginal production (not tackles) or use that money to improve OL or DL or LB's and go with a less expensive option at a position normally 10-15 yards off the ball? This argument is an old one, but drafting a safety high is not maximizing your resources when you have issues on the OL and DL. It was a luxury selection then as much as it is today. Whitner is not as good as Polamalu, a healthy Sanders, or Adrian Wilson. His instincts, despite watching all that film, are not as fine tuned. I'd rather be a little cheaper at his position than at QB or OT.

 

One of the big problems with many defensive players these days is the desire to make "big hits" instead of sound tackles.

 

And Whitner has been known to go for the big hit instead of the tackle. Someone jokingly referred to him as the league leader in hits after TD's were scored, and while I can't confirm, you often see DW arriving late in coverage. Certainly this is a nuanced argument, but the era of SportsCenter drives players to make the huge play when a good one suffices.

[DaBills51]

The Bills are probably in a tough spot here as Whitner will be able to command top dollar on the free agent market even though he isn't an elite safety.

Just take a look at the contract that Antonio Bryant signed last year....the free agent market was fairly weak at WR and he signed a contract worth $7 million per year. The problem with free agency is that many teams do a decent job of looking their players in to long term deals, and if they can't they simply franchise them. This creates a lack of talent in the free agent pool and leads to players like Antonio Bryant and Derrick Dockery being overpaid.

 

Some team with a need for a safety will scoop up Whitner for top 5 safety money....ala Gibril Wilson becoming one of the highest paid safeties in the NFL in 2008 or Antrel Rolle becoming the highest paid safety in the NFL last year (before Eric Berry signed his rookie deal) or Nate Clements becoming the highest paid CB in the NFL when he clearly wasn't the best corner in the league. This is why free agency is almost worthless nowadays and should only to be used to add solid vets like Andra Davis and Dwan Edwards for a reasonable price.

 

Really when you think of it, only 1-3 stars hit free agency each year and they all get vastly overpaid. If the Bills really wanted to keep Whitner they should have attempted to lock him up last year. This is especially true when you consider his ego, as he has a me against the world mentality and believes he is god's gift to earth.

 

Hopefully, the Bills will use the extra cash to throw some money at Lamarr Woodley or David Harris (although I doubt either hits free agency), since I would rather overpay at a position of extreme need.

 

The NFL really needs to do away with the franchise tag, it would help the league spread talent around better, and create a more evenly matched league.

[Malazan]

Again, it all depends on what he think he's worth.

 

I think I could see going as high as four million a year in a 3-4 deal. Anything, one cent beyond that and I would let him walk. That amount is a little bit higher because he has been vocal and I think is filled with enthusiasm when he's not depressed by not getting enough love on twitter.

[VADC Bills]

One of the big problems with many defensive players these days is the desire to make "big hits" instead of sound tackles.

I don't think anyone can say Whitner isn't making tackles this year. In fact he's among the league leaders. It's very sad when your safety is one of the teams top tacklers, it's a true indication that things aren't getting done up front. He is actually playing the best ball of his career.

[Bill from NYC]

I don't think anyone in the NFL would agree with that. They might agree he isn't a great safety, but he is far above average, based on his versatility alone. Also, no average defensive players make as many tackles as Whitner. It simply can't happen.

 

WOW!!! Far above average? Yikes! Many of his tackles are on tight ends after the long gains that he gives up, because he is far BELOW average in coverage. Whitner may well go an entire career without having as many interceptions as Byrd had in 09.

 

So let's see.....he gives up pass after pass, can't intercept passes, but he is "far above average?" Are you counting the way he tweets when you speak of this unseen versatility?

[The Dean]

WOW!!! Far above average? Yikes! Many of his tackles are on tight ends after the long gains that he gives up, because he is far BELOW average in coverage. Whitner may well go an entire career without having as many interceptions as Byrd had in 09.

 

So let's see.....he gives up pass after pass, can't intercept passes, but he is "far above average?" Are you counting the way he tweets when you speak of this unseen versatility?

 

 

So, you watch the games and think most of Whitner's tackles come after he screwed up? Really?

 

Wow. You've really gone 'round the bend, Bill.

[Endless Ike]

Great..another hole on a 3 win team. WTF...

 

more like, good riddance...he was a key contributor on a 3 win team...obviously not good enough