Three-time Pro Bowl strong safety Donte Whitner signed with the Browns two years ago in hopes of restoring glory to his hometown team.
But the Cleveland native, Glenville High School graduate and Ohio State University product never experienced the success he dreamed about with the Browns.
The organization’s new regime continued to push the reset button on the roster Saturday by cutting Whitner. It also waived cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu amid concerns about whether he’ll ever be able to recover enough from a devastating knee injury to play in the NFL.
Whitner took some jabs at the Browns on Twitter after his contract was terminated.
“Love you Cleveland,” Whitner tweeted. “My plan is in a different place. Their [sic] playing MONEYBALL now! Be blessed!
“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!”
Whitner, 30, joined the Browns in 2014 by signing a four-year, $28 million deal, which included $13 million guaranteed. Drafted eighth overall by the Buffalo Bills in 2006, Whitner advanced to the NFC Championship Game with the San Francisco 49ers in three consecutive seasons and made a trip to Super Bowl XLVII before uniting with the Browns. The winning didn’t follow him to Northeast Ohio as the Browns went 10-22 in his two seasons.
Disappointing defense
Whitner and inside linebacker Karlos Dansby signed with the Browns the same day, and former coach Mike Pettine relied on them to be the team’s leaders. But the defense proved to be a huge disappointment, ranking 23rd with 366.1 yards allowed per game in 2014 and 27th with 379.2 yards surrendered a game last season.
On March 16, the Browns cut Dansby, 34, and signed former New York Jets inside linebacker Demario Davis to replace him. The Cincinnati Bengals signed Dansby on Wednesday.
“It is important for us to thank Donte for all of his contributions to the Cleveland Browns over the last two seasons,” Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown said in a news release. “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.”
Coach Hue Jackson foreshadowed Whitner’s demise March 22 when he was noncommittal about the player’s future with the Browns during the NFL owners meetings.
“He’s one of the better safeties in this league,” Jackson said. “He’s been a tremendous competitor. He’s from the area, and I think he has a desire and want-to to be here. So we’ll see how that all unfolds. But he’s been a great player in this league.”
The Browns drafted strong safety Ibraheim Campbell in the fourth round last year and will likely give him a shot to become Whitner’s successor in the starting lineup.
Other vacancies
The franchise will need to fill its other safety spot, too.
The Browns let free safety Tashaun Gipson, 25, a Pro Bowl selection in 2014, slip away to the Jacksonville Jaguars last month in free agency. Jordan Poyer, 24, and free-agent acquisition Rahim Moore, 26, are expected to vie for the job opening created by Gipson’s departure.
Of course, the Browns could also add a safety in the April 28-30 draft.
Whitner started all 30 games in which he appeared with the Browns. In 2014, he led the team with 106 tackles to go along with one forced fumble and five passes defensed, including an interception. Last season, he ranked second on the team with 81 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and four passes defensed.
He was named a Pro Bowl alternate in 2014 and played in the all-star game. But Whitner’s performance declined last year as he missed several tackles early in the season. ProFootballFocus.com ranked him 11th out of 88 safeties in 2014. He tied for 24th out of 89 safeties in the website’s 2015 rankings.
As for Ekpre-Olomu, the Browns cut him because his surgically repaired left knee hasn’t progressed at the rate they had hoped. He was released with a nonfootball injury designation because he hurt the knee before he joined the Browns. The previous regime took a chance on him in the seventh round (No. 241 overall) of last year’s draft in hopes he could make a comeback. He suffered a dislocated knee in addition to a torn anterior cruciate ligament Dec. 16, 2014, while practicing with the University of Oregon in preparation for the Rose Bowl.
Ekpre-Olomu, 22, sat out all last season while rehabilitating.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.