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Rookie safety Donte Whitner and the Buffalo Bills are $1.1 million apart in negotiations to sign the No. 8 draft pick, The Associated Press learned Wednesday.
The Bills' last offer to the player included $12.9 million guaranteed on a five-year deal, while Whitner is seeking closer to $14 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The AP. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because talks are ongoing.
Whitner, who has missed six days of training camp, is unhappy with the offer because he considers it too far below the $15 million guaranteed safety Michael Huff -- the No. 7 pick -- received as part of a five-year deal with Oakland last week, the person said.
The No. 9 pick, linebacker Ernie Sims, received $12.1 million guaranteed in a five-year contract with Detroit.
Whitner is seeking a deal that's closer to Huff's because both play the same position.
Whitner, out of Ohio State, is the highest player selected in the draft last April who remains unsigned, and is one of only four first-rounders not under contract.
Whitner's agent, Jonathan Hurst, has declined to comment on negotiations.
Bills general manager Marv Levy said talks are continuing but would not comment on the terms being offered.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/nfl/specials/preview/2006/08/02/bc.fbn.bills.whitner1st.ap/index.html
The Bills' last offer to the player included $12.9 million guaranteed on a five-year deal, while Whitner is seeking closer to $14 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The AP. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because talks are ongoing.
Whitner, who has missed six days of training camp, is unhappy with the offer because he considers it too far below the $15 million guaranteed safety Michael Huff -- the No. 7 pick -- received as part of a five-year deal with Oakland last week, the person said.
The No. 9 pick, linebacker Ernie Sims, received $12.1 million guaranteed in a five-year contract with Detroit.
Whitner is seeking a deal that's closer to Huff's because both play the same position.
Whitner, out of Ohio State, is the highest player selected in the draft last April who remains unsigned, and is one of only four first-rounders not under contract.
Whitner's agent, Jonathan Hurst, has declined to comment on negotiations.
Bills general manager Marv Levy said talks are continuing but would not comment on the terms being offered.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/nfl/specials/preview/2006/08/02/bc.fbn.bills.whitner1st.ap/index.html
