No. 20 links Whitner with three of NFL’s best safeties

By Connor Byrne  |   Wednesday, August 09, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Buffalo Bills
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Lost in the hoopla over the Buffalo Bills releasing linebacker Jeff Posey on Tuesday was rookie Donte Whitner's number switch. The Bills' top pick in April's draft, who recently signed a lucrative five-year contract, paid reserve running back Shaud Williams an undisclosed amount of money to wear No. 20. Prior to the transition, Whitner was scheduled to wear 36, which was occupied before by ex-Bills safety Lawyer Milloy, a salary cap casualty in February.

Now that he has 20 on his chest and back, Whitner is in truly elite company. Other starting safeties to wear the number include Ed Reed, Donovin Darius and Brian Dawkins, who have been game-changing, dominant players in their respective careers.

In 2004, strong safety Reed won the league's Defensive Player of the Year Award for the Baltimore Ravens. The former Miami Hurricanes star tallied 76 tackles and an eye-opening nine interceptions. For the first four seasons of his decorated and illustrious career, the 27-year-old already has 22 interceptions in 58 regular season games. He's also appeared in two Pro Bowls.

Darius has also shined in the AFC at strong safety. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected the fearsome hitter out of Syracuse in 1998, earning a nomination to the All-Rookie team that season. He earned second-team All-Pro honors and many other league-wide acclaims since. Moreover, Darius currently holds the Jaguars' franchise record for tackles with 798 in eight seasons as a pro. Probably the most underrated safety in football, Darius is still highly-regarded for his strenuous workout regime.

Dawkins, meanwhile, could someday parlay his career with the Philadelphia Eagles into a place in Canton's Pro Football Hall of Fame. The 32-year-old free safety has been a revolutionary defender in his 10 seasons, intercepting 28 passes and sacking opposing quarterbacks 17 times. "The Wolverine" has made four Pro Bowls.

Of the above standout performers, Whitner shares the most similarities with Reed and Darius. The three all play the same position (strong safety) and share a draft round (first). Whitner, however, is the only top 10 pick of the trio, as the ex-Ohio State All-American was selected eighth.

The only other starting safeties besides Reed, Darius and Dawkins currently wearing 20 are Mike Adams and Jay Bellamy. However, Adams of the San Francisco 49ers and Bellamy of the New Orleans Saints don't stand much chance of maintaining their respective No. 1 roles. Adams isn't a big favorite among the Niners' coaching staff and Bellamy may choose to retire. Hence, it's difficult to count them with Reed and Dawkins.

The last notable safety in Western New York to wear No. 20 was Henry Jones, one of the best defensive backs in Buffalo's history. Between 1991-2000, Jones intercepted 18 regular season passes and was a part of three AFC-winning Bills teams.

Without question, the Buffalo Bills and their fans would love to have Whitner turn into a player comparable to the above two Pro Bowlers, or someplace in between. Since Reed, Darius and Dawkins are truly first-class performers, Whitner will have a long road ahead to catch the tandem.

Numbers are often dismissed as meaningless by fans and pundits, but when players look and feel good, they usually perform to the best of their abilities. The 5-foot-10, 203-pound Whitner now looks good. Whether or not he plays at a Pro Bowl level in the future will be worth watching for.

At the moment, he still must leap over veteran Matt Bowen in the starting lineup. Look for that to take place in the team's four preseason games and the rest of training camp.

--Connor J. Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com

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