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S Donte Whitner (Official Thread)

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Whitner Named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month
by Chris Brown, Lead Journalist Last Updated: 9/28/2006 3:40 PM ET

It's probably safe to say that Mel Kiper and the other NFL draft gurus aren't second guessing the Buffalo Bills selection of Donte Whitner with the eighth overall pick last spring anymore.

Whitner was named the NFL Rookie of the Month for his play in September.

"It's a great honor to get," said Whitner. "But I'd rather be 3-0 right now. I'm going to go out there and give it my all next month also and the rest of the season and see what happens."

If there's one satisfying aspect about the award, he believes it answers all the criticism Buffalo received for taking Whitner with their top pick last April.

"(The Bills) picked me and I'm glad they picked me," Whitner said. "But I still want to go out there and prove people wrong and prove the Bills right."

The Ohio State product got off to a good start in Week One as he recorded an interception in his first NFL game at New England off of Tom Brady. Unfortunately his return for a touchdown was called back on penalty. The scoring play would've given Buffalo the lead and likely the win in Week One. He also had eight tackles in the tightly fought contest.

"I've felt good out there," said Whitner. "It's really no different from college to the NFL. Everybody makes a big deal about being a rookie. But if you're poised and you know what you're doing out there, being a rookie really means nothing."

"Donte is a smart football player," said defensive captain London Fletcher. "For the most part he's doing an excellent job and the coaches are doing an excellent job of getting him prepared."

In Week Two Whitner made his first NFL start at Miami and was part of a dominant defensive effort as he contributed seven tackles and broke up a Miami two-point conversion attempt in the end zone. The Bills defense held Miami scoreless until less than two minutes remained in the game.

Whitner posted his second straight start last week and was credited with three tackles in the effort. He stands seventh on the team in tackles and is tied for the team lead for interceptions.

"He's talented," said head coach Dick Jauron. "He's fast. He likes to play the game and he'll hit you. Those are all things that translate well to our sport. He's got good size. He's learning how to play, but one of the reasons we did like him is because he likes football. He likes to talk about football, look at it, study it and he likes to play. He's just learning and he's going to get better every week. I believe that."

The Bills have had just two NFL Rookies of the Month prior to Whitner's honor this week. Linebacker Gabe Northern won the award back in November of the 1996 season, and Sam Cowart won it in October of 1998.
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http://www.buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4192
 
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Good for Donte. I know we all wish inside that we could have had him for another year, but I don't think theres any doubt that his progress so far has backed up his decision.


And I agree, he looks sweet in those Buffalo throwbacks.
 
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BuckWrestler141;622809; said:
The Buffalo Buckeyes, Whitner, just dropped a pick that drilled him in the chest, the game was already won for the Bills, but I want to see Whitner get rookie of the year so would have loved to have snagged that pick.
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Yeah.... he probably should have had that...but it'll come.... He's still pretty raw.

His best trait has been his tackling and presence around the ball..... he's always in the area when he's not making tackles.
 
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xl


Published: October 07, 2006 11:48 pm

BILLS: Whitner learning on the fly

By Jay Skurski
Greater Niagara Newspapers

ORCHARD PARK ? It would be easy to understand if Donte Whitner felt pretty confident after his first 15 quarters as a member of the Buffalo Bills.

After all, the rookie strong safety had already won the NFL defensive rookie of the month award for September and was a starter.

But in just one play, Whitner learned just how difficult ? and scary ? life in the big leagues can be.

With the Bills nursing a five-point lead against Minnesota in Week 4, the Vikings were on a two-minute drill. With the Bills back in a zone, Vikings receiver Marcus Robinson streaked down field. Quarterback Brad Johnson threw deep, Whitner was late in coverage and it looked like the Vikings might steal a win.

?I messed up,? Whitner said. ?I was supposed to read that guy and get over the top. I didn?t get over the top, so it was my fault.?

Luckily for Whitner, Johnson?s throw was an inch too long and it slipped through Robinson?s outstretched hands. The Bills left with a win, while Whitner took home a learning experience.

?Don?t take anything for granted,? he said. ?Do everything right until the last whistle.?

There?s been plenty Whitner has done correctly through the first four games. Forced into the starting lineup because of an injury to veteran Matt Bowen, the Ohio State product has shown why the Bills went against the so-called draft experts and took Whitner with the eighth overall pick in April?s draft.

When Whitner?s name was called in April, a collective ?who?? echoed through Western New York. With quarterbacks like Jay Cutler and Matt Leinart on the board ? not to mention a couple highly-touted defensive tackles ? Whitner wasn?t on the minds of the media or fans. But he?s proven to be a good fit in defensive coordinator Perry Fewell?s version of the Tampa-2 defense.

Whitner?s tied for sixth on the team with 23 tackles, has two passes defensed and recorded an interception of Tom Brady in the season opener at New England.

Asked if he thought he was off to a good start, Whitner doesn?t miss a beat.

?No, we could be 4-0,? he said.

But what about winning defensive rookie of the month?

?I mean, winning that is nice, it?s a good start, but I want to win defensive rookie of the year,? he said.

Defensive backs coach George Catavolos takes it one step further.

?Donte doesn?t care about winning awards,? he said. ?It?s nice that somebody thinks he played well enough to win that award, but that?s not what he?s about.?

It?s that mentality that has endeared Whitner to the Bills coaching staff and fans.

?We know he loves football,? Catavolos said. ?He studies hard, he practices hard. He?s had his rough starts, but he?s gotten through.?

Whitner?s NFL education will continue today when the Bills meet the Chicago Bears at legendary Soldier Field. Bears quarterback Rex Grossman is fifth in the NFL in passing yards, so it?s safe to assume he?ll look to make a play down the field.

Whitner will again start next to fellow rookie Ko Simpson today.

?We?re both learning together. We just want to go out there and make plays,? Whitner said.

Contact Jay Skurski at 693-1000, Ext. 117.
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http://www.tonawanda-news.com/buffalobills/gnnbuffalorbills_story_280234845.html
 
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Donte's coming along quite nicely for the Bills this season. He definately has the look of a future Pro-Bowler.

As an aside, does anybody else think the Bills should bring the throwback uni they wore with the white helmet and lighter blue jersey back full time? Those uni's are friggin' sweet.

lbillshelmet.jpg
 
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