The Buffalo Bills' retention of two veteran safeties this week has increased speculation

about the team's plans for Donte Whitner.

Neither of the safeties retained — George Wilson and Bryan Scott — are getting

starter money at the moment. Scott signed a two-year deal for about $3 million. Wilson was

retained as a restricted free agent with a one-year tender offer of $1.75 million.

But both have starting experience, and Wilson is coming off a good season in which he

started 12 games at strong safety. The fact Wilson moved ahead of Whitner on the depth chart

for two games in the second half of the season is the fuel for the speculation: Will the

Bills' new regime deem Whitner expendable?

Whitner even got a flurry of messages from well-wishers on his Twitter account over the

weekend regarding rumors he might get traded, all of which he seemed to take in stride.

"Just win, and it all goes away!" he responded.

And: "Just so people out there don't get it twisted. I do understand that people are upset

about us as a team."

Jairus Byrd has a lock on the free-safety job. Wilson can play either safety spot. Scott is

a strong safety.

Whitner opened the 2009 season as the Bills' starting free safety and held that spot for

three games. But a thumb injury forced him to the sideline and Byrd into the free-safety spot.

Byrd put a vice-grip on the job by intercepting eight passes in a five-game stretch and

finishing the season with nine pickoffs, tied for the NFL lead.

When Whitner came back after two games, he started at strong safety. Then he was injured

again for three games due to an ankle sprain. When he came back, for a game at Jacksonville,

Wilson kept the strong-safety job. Whitner started the next three games at free safety due to

an injury to Byrd. When Byrd returned for a home game against New England, Whitner went back

to backup status behind Wilson.

Whitner has started 50 games over four years for the Bills and has been a versatile

performer, frequently matching up in pass coverage on tight ends and slot receivers. He's a

good tackler. Nevertheless, his production has not matched the expectations that came when the

Bills made him the eighth overall pick in the draft in 2006. He has four career interceptions.

Wilson had four interceptions last season and was as productive as Whitner had been in

terms of making tackles. The Bills finished last season No. 2 in the NFL in pass defense.

(They were 30th versus the run.)

The Bills approached Wilson about a contract extension late last season, but the initial

talks did not gain any traction.

Former Bills interim coach and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell defended Whitner before

leaving the Bills, saying the team's use of Whitner in a lot of underneath coverage didn't put

him in position to make as many big plays.

"We ask a lot of him," Fewell said.

Since most NFL teams are reluctant to give up draft choices, it may be tough to get good

return for Whitner in any trade.

The Bills have good depth and flexibility with their current roster of 10 defensive backs.

Beside the four veteran safeties, the Bills have six veteran cornerbacks in the fold. The

starting corners are Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin, who will be back from the fractured

fibula injury that sidelined him for the season after Week Three. Seven-year veteran Drayton

Florence, who played well while making 13 starts in place of McKelvin, is under contract for

another year. Reggie Corner, who made eight starts last year, will be back for his third

season. Also returning are second-year man Ellis Lankster and fifth-year man Ashton Youboty,

who also received a tender offer Thursday as a restricted free agent.

. . .

Free-agent guard Wade Smith completed his visit with the Bills on Saturday and headed to

Houston for a visit with the Texans. Smith started 16 games over the past two years with

Kansas City and played for Bills line coach Joe D'Alessandris, who was Chiefs assistant

offensive line coach. Smith is a Dallas native.