Donte Whitner Sucks.

[BillsVet]

Holy Crap. This thread has some pure stupidity being thrown around. Our secondary looks like crap in general this year when the only consistent pass rusher that brings anything near pressure is Kyle Williams. Whitner has had two main responsibilities on this D: make the tackles that the LB's aren't getting and cover for everyone elses mistakes.

 

Strong Safeties generally don't get many picks. On the Bills this year, it took the secondary as a whole at least 6 games just to get one. So, while you are whining that Whitner is not a turnover generating machine, nobody else on the D has been either. Is Whitner the superstar that the Bills were hoping for at the 8th pick? Is he worth Polamalu type money? No and no. However he has been one of the more consistent players on a crappy defense. He has done enough to earn around where the Bills have offered him and nothing more. If a lockout does occur the Bills may actually get him back with RFA rules, which is more of a certainty for Poz. That said, Whitner is a solid player, not a superstar, and not the epic John McCargo/ Aaron Maybin style bust that people lead us to believe.

 

Exhibit A on why teams without a pass rush and rebuilding do not begin said rebuild with a safety. The Whitner apologists quibble over this simple fact, but it remains a luxury to select a safety so high when more important positions like OT, 43RDE or 34OLB are essential. And now this very point is being used to excuse Whitner for his underwhelming play.

 

Teams are not afraid to throw his way, as evidenced by the number of receptions and TD's where DW throws a shoulder after the receiver catches the ball. He is an average player demanding a salary commensurate with being a star, of which he is not and never will be.

Edited December 30, 2010 by BillsVet

[Malazan]

Exhibit A on why teams without a pass rush and rebuilding do not begin said rebuild with a safety. The Whitner apologists quibble over this simple fact, but it remains a luxury to select a safety so high when more important positions like OT, 43RDE or 34OLB are essential. And now this very point is being used to excuse Whitner for his underwhelming play.

 

Teams are not afraid to throw his way, as evidenced by the number of receptions and TD's where DW throws a shoulder after the receiver catches the ball. He is an average player demanding a salary commensurate with being a star, of which he is not and never will be.

 

This is bottom line. Paying Whitner 7 million a year could net a solid linebacker or lineman which would provide greater benefit. An increased pass rush would make a lesser safety look better. Maybe Donte is worth it, but he is not 'worth it' to the Bills. He's not going be a difference maker here anytime soon.