Dispatch
NFL NOTEBOOK
Bills, Whitner haggling over $1 million
Thursday, August 03, 2006
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rookie safety Donte Whitner of Ohio State and the Buffalo Bills are $1.1 million apart in negotiations to sign the No. 8 draft pick, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press yesterday.
The Bills’ last offer included $12.9 million guaranteed on a five-year deal while Whitner is seeking closer to $14 million, the person told the AP, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Whitner has missed six days of camp and considers the offer too far below the $15 million guaranteed safety Michael Huff — the No. 7 pick — received as part of a five-year deal with the Oakland Raiders, the person said.
The No. 9 pick, linebacker Ernie Sims, received $12.1 million guaranteed in a five-year contract with the Detroit Lions.
Whitner is seeking a deal that’s closer to Huff’s because both play the same position.
Whitner is the highest player selected in the draft last April who remains unsigned.
Cowboy gets pay boost
Take it from Terrell Owens: Roy Williams is such a hardhitter that offensive players look for him before the ball is snapped so they can try avoiding the star safety.
Teams can’t ever have enough guys like that. So the Dallas Cowboys made sure he’s theirs for a while by giving him a fiveyear deal worth $25.2 million, with $11.1 million guaranteed.
Williams was entering the final year of his contract. The new contract gives him a raise this season and locks him up for four more years, through 2010.
Concussion affects Shockey
The effects of his first concussion left Jeremy Shockey nauseous, sensitive to light, reduced his motor skills and made it difficult for him to sleep, the three-time Pro Bowl tight end said.
"Don’t get too close, I might get sick," a soft-spoken and rather subdued Shockey said. "I am feeling better but I have headaches and I am pretty sensitive to light."
The comments were Shockey’s first to the media since he sustained what the Giants described as a mild concussion in a collision with safety Will Demps late on Monday.
Pooch punts
Arizona Cardinals right tackle Oliver Ross will miss at least three weeks, and possibly as many as 10, because of a right knee injury. ... The St. Louis Rams signed Moe Williams to a one-year contract addressing the need for a backup running back. ... The Kansas City Chiefs acquired running back Michael Bennett from the New Orleans Saints, but insisted that didn’t mean Priest Holmes would retire. Holmes is being held out of contact by doctors because of a neck and spinal cord injury he sustained in a game last season.