Bengals, Former Bills S Donte Whitner Agree To Two-Year Deal

Ed. Note: As it turns out, the below story was only the first part of the story. Whitner agreed to this deal, but then took a better deal with the San Francisco 49ers.

Way back in May, right after the conclusion of the 2011 NFL Draft, Buffalo Bills GM Buddy Nix told reporters that he didn't think free agent safety Donte Whitner wanted to be back to the team - and because of that, he likely wouldn't be. That came to fruition today, as Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 (in the near future) has confirmed with Whitner that the sixth-year pro has agreed to a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. Whitner seems enthused with the move.

This brings Whitner's five-year run in Buffalo to an official conclusion. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft finishes his Bills career with 452 tackles, two sacks, five interceptions, three forced fumbles and a touchdown over 69 career games.

Whitner, still just 26, joins a Cincinnati defensive backfield that features another former Bill (and one-time Whitner teammate) in cornerback Nate Clements. The vacancy Whitner leaves at strong safety - a position he's manned exclusively throughout the vast majority of his first five pro seasons - will be assumed by George Wilson.