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April 3, 2016Trying to take some attention away from NCAA Men’s Final Four Saturday night, the Cleveland Browns announced that they have released starting safety Donte Whitner.
Here’s Sashi Brown via press release:
“It is important for us to thank Donte for all of his contributions to the Cleveland Browns over the last two seasons. His passion for this city and dedication to his craft was contagious. These are difficult decisions to make but we felt it was the best decision for the Browns at this time. We wish him the best as he continues his career.”
Following Karlos Dansby’s release by the Browns in mid-March, Dansby told Whitner to “be ready for whatever” according to cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. WFNY followed up with thoughts as to why Whitner could be next and it appears the linebacker, who has since signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, seemed to know the direction the Browns were heading with their veterans.
The Glenville, Ohio native and former Buckeye who came to Cleveland in 2014 when he signed a four-year deal with his hometown team wanted one thing for his city: to bring a championship to the city of Cleveland, a city that has been searching for one since 1964. (Spoiler alert: That never happened.)
In two seasons with the Browns, Whitner tallied 186 tackles (126 solo), 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, nine passes defended, and one interception in 30 starts. In 2014, he was named a Pro Bowler; while in 2015, the 3-time Pro Bowler was second on the team in tackles (81, 51 solo).
A first-round pick by the Bills in 2006, he was expected to be one of the lone veterans in the Browns secondary, along with cornerback Joe Haden. But, the Browns will now have two new starting safeties in their defensive backfield following both Hitner’s and previously Tashaun Gipson’s release from the team. Gipson has since signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. That makes two Pro Bowl safeties gone from a team that will remain in the cellar of the NFL over the last few weeks.
Upon hearing of his release, Whitner took to Twitter to not only share that he has been let go, but also his reaction to being released as well.
Cleveland I'm gone!
— DonteHitner31 (@DonteWhitner) April 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/DonteWhitner/status/716418159931236353
I just wish they had common courtesy and would've done it weeks ago when free agency was going on… #25thHour… But I'll bounce back!
— DonteHitner31 (@DonteWhitner) April 3, 2016
Whitner’s departure seems to be part of a youth movement by the new front office, along with saving money. Whether you agree with it or not, the team is clearing up cap space for the future, along with getting much younger.
13 Comments
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Rachel Phelps. We might as well be owned by Rachel Phelps.
Whitner isn’t a major loss.
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Yep.
Wow waiting this late to cut guys is a really shitty and classless move. Why would anyone ever come play for such a petty backstabbing organization?
hi HOP … there shouldn’t be any time limits on the mess they’re trying to overhaul … i’d venture to say whitner knew for a while that this was coming. his feelings/pride is hurt , so he had to get in a jab before he left.
I thought it was shitty before I saw the Whitner tweet. The team hasn’t met or had any practices since the end of last season so there was no new information that led to this, they knew all along he was going to be cut and just waited until FA was basically over before releasing him. Total Steve Jobs-esque dick move.
No NOT trying to take attention away from final four, trying to hide the news behind the final four.
What is going on in Cleveland?
What team wants a safety past his prime who can’t cover or tackle?
moneyball !!