Whitner talks about the differences between 49ers, Bills

Posted by Mike Florio on November 10, 2011, 2:07 PM EST

Safety Donte Whitner spent his first five NFL seasons in Buffalo.  After the lockout ended, Whitner signed with the 49ers, following a brief flirtation with the Bengals.

So what’s the biggest difference between the Niners and the Bills?

We asked, he answered.

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37 responses to “Whitner talks about the differences between 49ers, Bills”

  4. What an ultra-ridiculous statement. The 49ers have won this year because they “really, really want to.” The Bills have been yearly losers because of God-awful drafting like, say, taking Donte Whitner 8th overally. And lo and behold, he leaves, gets replaced in the lineup by a converted WR (George Wilson), the Bills lead the league in picks and are in the thick of it in the best division in football. Whatever, Donte!

  6. I think that’s too harsh.The bills had the misfortune of playing against a dynasty and in recent years a resurgent Jets. Losing destroys moral and for both teams it’s been a long time for any kind of success. He is lucky that he joined the 49ers this year and not last year, Singletary would drive him crazy.

  7. should have asked Donte what he thinks about his backup, George Wilson, putting up better numbers in a half of a season than he did in 5 years combined. If that is not clear coaching vision then i don’t know what is.

  8. Everybody hates their old team and loves their new team.

    It would actually be a man bites dog story if Whitner said that he LOVED the Bills and the worst mistake he ever made was signing with the Niners.

    But that never happens.

  9. Donte doesn’t realize that what he said is as much a criticism of himself as it was of his former teammates. YOU were a Bill Donte! Therefore, YOU didn’t want to win either. It’s a team sport and if you start thinking that you’re the only one that wants to win, you’re in for a lonely and short life in the NFL.

    I also want to point out that the guy who replaced him, George Wilson, is having a pro bowl caliber season and already has more INT’s in half a season than Donte had in his entire career in Buffalo.

  11. i am beyond happy this guy is not on the bills anymore. this guy is not as good as he thinks. george wilson outplays him and he wasnt the 8th overall pick. whitner is a joke. go bills

  12. You Bills fans are funny. He led your defense in tackles, your defense is not very good without him, living off TO’s to stay above water and you are talking bad about him now that he’s gone. Something tells me Whitner is really happy with how things have turned out.

  13. Whitner is actually right about the Bills not wanting to win in the Dick Jauron years. Because they played HIM over George Wilson, who has shown that he is a far more valuable player than Whitner will ever be. This bum was a big time bust. Go Bills!

  15. LOL, as a Bill’s fan, how sweet it is to have the media even care what one of our castoffs says!!! Pretty sure that Whitner is looking good because of the rest of the Niners, and not visa versa. But, best of luck to him.

  16. Where did my post go showing the stats for Whitner and how he never lead the team in tackles ever. Anyway to Yankees27 point, que up the NYJ game last year and watch Whitner wiff on Tomlinson before he went on his long TD run. Watching whitner wiff (when it’s not your team) priceless!

  17. how could anyone take what his guy says seriously. he thought he deserved to be paid like a top 5 safety and ended up with a deal that pays him like an average one (which he is) george wilson is a significant upgrade over this clown

  18. richc111,

    You’re right my bad. He led all NFL DB’s in tackles but was second to LB P0slusny on the Bills. Now it makes even more sense why your defense sucks this year. You let your top two tacklers go. Not a good move at all. Bills have been winning because of their offense and TO’s from the defense, but as we saw last week, when the defense doesn’t luck into ints, they are not very good. Buffalos little run is over.

  20. I love the people that just read the headline without listening, and went ahead and commented. When he says the Bills “didn’t want to win” what he’s saying is moves like “bringing in a high profile wide receiver but getting rid of the entire offensive line” are not moves that will win.

    I like how the Bills’ fans are talking about how they are better off without him. Apparently the 49ers are better off with him, so I guess it’s a win win.

  21. Funny how this goof can say the things about a team who now has one of the most UNDER THE RADAR guys playing his position for the same team that did not want to pay him to come back after going 4-12 just a year ago. George Wilson has done better in one year than what Whitner did in his 4 that he was with the Bills.

    Whitner could not cover anybody and being 1 of 3 players that were up the middle for the 32nd Ranked Defense against the Run from last year shows a little more. They would bring him close to the line and time after time we were gouged for many yards by not only starting running backs but 2nd and 3rd string running backs. If you look this year there are now 3 new faces up the middle and the run defense has been much better. We have given up a good amount of passing yards but when the bills have played good offensive teams that were trailing in games them same offensive teams were forced to throw the ball to catch up!

    Whitner and his mediocre play has not been missed in Buffalo and will not be missed in Buffalo. This is a lot like Mr. Willis McGahee a few years back when he bashed Buffalo and we have all seen how that has turned out for McGahee!! A new year and another new team starting out as nothing more than a backup who suddenly found some holes to run the ball after a injury forced Moreno, the starter out for a few games!! Good luck Mr. Whitner and you should probably hope things turn out better for you out in the Bay Area than they did for Mr. Willis McGahee!!!!!!

  22. Football 101 – When a safety leads the team in tackles, thats a sign the defense sucks…

    Safety plays further off the ball, so when they make most of their tackles the play has already gone for a big gain.

  23. Donte, the difference is those five silver objects in the trophy case. Although the Bills had been involved for better (Houston) or worse (Miracle in Nashville) plays in NFL History….

  25. @ wcman
    The Bills are treading water…5-3 in a 3 way tie for 1st place in arguably the most competitive division in football? Also Whither led in tackles on the 32 ranked defense, that’s really not impressive and he was a pile jumper.

  26. @ wcman

    Aside from being wrong on who led the Bills in tackles, your wrong about Poz and Whitner’s departures hurting them. Poz and Whitner are BOTH slow, overated, overpaid, they’re replacements are better(Barnett/Wilson), and 99% of Bills fans including me are glad they are gone. You might want to stick to commenting on your own team because all you’ve done so far was waste time out of your day by making senseless points.
    The Bills run is not over, it has just started.

  27. I can’t get over this crazy 49er love. Are they on a roll, sure. But what are the chances that such a simplistic and ridiculous offense takes them anywhere but to a humbling first round blowout?

    Once Gore gets a bit dinged (as usual) and teams close off that run game, the whole offense falls on the shoulders of Alex Smith. That will be ugly. Anyone that thinks he is actually a top tier NFL QB has not watched a 49er game this year. Harbaugh basically has him on leash and won’t let him throw past 10 yards if that. In several of their wins he was totally invisible. That kind of ridiculous play won’t last much longer even if they have 4 more divisional games.

    They are the NFL’s biggest fraud.

  28. @ wmac
    On second thought, after seeing your comments:
    “your defense sucks this year”
    followed by:
    “Bills have been winning because of TO’s from the defense”
    ..you may just want to consider leaving the comments to yourself altogether.

  29. pftbillsfan,

    They are treading water and going under it seems. Look if you guys want to dump on your second leading tackler from last year who is now playing really well for another team, that’s your prerogative, but don’t expect others to see it as anything other than sour grapes. I’ve seen the ints Wilson has picked up this year, and he’s been the lucky recipient of a few tipped balls that have come right to him, much like Byrd a couple of years ago. Your defense ranked 24th at the end of last season not 32nd, and it’s worse this season, so it obviously wasn’t Whitner’s fault.

  30. bills9951,

    So you’re better off without your two leading tacklers from a year ago? Your defensive ranking says otherwise. Getting TO’s doesn’t equal great defense. It equals opportunistic defense and is a big reason why you lose when you don’t get those TO’s. The way the Jets kicked your ass last week, I’d say you are on the way to another playoff free season.

  31. AND THE 24TH RANKED DEFENSE WAS PROBABLY THE “OVERALL DEFENSE”. IF YOU WOULD READ THE POST OUR “RUN” DEFENSE WAS 32ND!! AGAIN THANKS FOR READING THE NEWS ON THE TEAM THAT DOES NOT WANT TO WIN!!

  32. patridge21 says:
    Nov 10, 2011 6:29 PM
    AND THE 24TH RANKED DEFENSE WAS PROBABLY THE “OVERALL DEFENSE”. IF YOU WOULD READ THE POST OUR “RUN” DEFENSE WAS 32ND!! AGAIN THANKS FOR READING THE NEWS ON THE TEAM THAT DOES NOT WANT TO WIN!!
    ————————————————-
    Really, let’s see.
    ————————————————–

    pftbillsfan says:
    Nov 10, 2011 5:31 PM
    @ wcman
    The Bills are treading water…5-3 in a 3 way tie for 1st place in arguably the most competitive division in football? Also Whither led in tackles on the 32 ranked defense, that’s really not impressive and he was a pile jumper.
    ————————————————

    Nope, nothing mentioned about run defense. Just defense, so on top of not knowing how to unlock the cap button, you are also showing you don’t know how to read. Stop showing everyone what a moron you are and give up posting.

  33. @wcman

    Whitner could not cover anybody and being 1 of 3 players that were up the middle for the 32nd Ranked Defense against the Run from last year shows a little more.

    Looks like you had better adjust them reading glasses buddy!! DEFENSE AGAINST THE RUN doesn’t normally mean overall defense Einstein!! Whos the moron now?? lol thanks for the post and showing how much of an illiterate person you really are therefore everybody will continue to pass your posts right on by!

    GO BILLS!

  34. In terms of Whitner, sometimes you gotta let a decent player go in order to:

    a) Save cap space to hopefully spend elsewhere.

    b) Get a talented backup into the starting lineup (see Wilson, George).

    and c) Get rid of a guy who talks way too much (see Whitner, Donte)

    And oh yeah, I’m going to take a whack at this dead horse…
    @wcman:
    Hooked on Phonics homeboy.

  35. Why because they didn’t re-sign him?

    George Wilson looks to be a huge upgrade over whitner already. Bills were smart for not re-signing the talentless freak

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