Bills' Fred Jackson: Donte Whitner is 'a guy that likes to ruffle feathers'
Bills running back Fred JacksoncriticizedBrowns safety Donte Whitner for comments he made this summer about the Buffalo franchise. The Bills (6-5) hosts Cleveland (7-4) on Sunday.
Whitner, who spent the first five seasons of his career in Buffalo after being drafted in the first round of the 2006 draft, agreed to a reported four-year, $28 million contract with Cleveland in March.
In July, the 29-year-old toldSammy Watkins via Twitter to "Be quiet Sammy. Trust me!" after the Bills rookie wide receiver responded to a question about the Browns' decision to trade the No. 4 overall pick in this year's draft in the deal that landed Watkins in Buffalo.
From the Akron Beacon Journal:
“I have a chip on my shoulder for every game, so it’s not just the Browns,” Watkins said. “I come out and dominate my opponent every game. I’m sure they’ve got great cornerbacks and great safeties, but my job is to do my job on the field no matter who’s in front of me, whether it’s [Browns cornerback] Joe Haden or [New England Patriots cornerback Darrelle] Revis or [Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard] Sherman, all the greats. My job is to win on the field and do my best.”
Watkins was reminded that the Bills are scheduled to host the Browns on Nov. 30.
“It’ll be a great matchup,” Watkins said. “We can go out there, battle, scrap, have a couple fights. It’s going to be great.”
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Whitner then began making comments about the Bills' potential relocation. At the time, uncertainty hung over the Bills' future as the franchise searched for a new owner following the death of Ralph Wilson in March. Terry and Kim Pegula's $1.4 billion purchase of the Bills was approved by NFL owners in October. It is believed the team will remain in Buffalo.
On Wednesday, Jackson described Whitner as a guy who "likes to ruffle feathers."
"That's just him being him," Jackson said. "Donte is a guy that likes to ruffle feathers. He found any way he could to try and ruffle Buffalo's feathers, knowing he had to come up to us. That's just him doing what he does. At the same time, I mean, it's annoying. It's just dumb for him to do and talk about people like that, and talk about the city of Buffalo like that. But at the same time, you've just got to take it with a grain of salt and say it's just some dude that's being an idiot about some stuff.
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Also speaking on Whitner's comments, Bills running back C.J. Spillersaid "Fred summed it up. He summed it up for everybody. I don't think I have to elaborate on how the whole team feels."
Jackson is in his eighth season with the Bills. Over nine games in 2014, the 33-year-old has rushed for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Whitner, a has recorded 49 tackles and one interception over 11 games this season.
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- Chris Johnson
