Donte Whitner has performed a variety of roles since getting drafted eighth overall by the Bills in 2006. He’s played strong safety, nickel cornerback, and free safety.

Now he’s facing the surprising possibility of a new role: reserve.

FoxSports.com reports that Buffalo’s coaching staff is eager to see what rookie second round pick Jairus Byrd can do in training camp. If Byrd performs well, he could start at free safety, with journeyman Bryan Scott at strong safety.

Whitner was arrested earlier this offseason, but the competition looks to be based on his play. Buffalo is looking for more playmaking ability in their secondary and believes Byrd, a former cornerback, could provide it. Whitner has only two interceptions in his career.

If Whitner loses the starting gig, he won’t be moving back to nickel corner. He’ll be a utility man at both safety spots.

Bills owner and 2009 HOF enshrinee Ralph Wilson was a guest on Sirius NFL Radio Friday morning with Randy Cross and Bob Papa, and naturally they asked him what he thinks of his biggest offseason acquisition Terrell Owens. Here’s what Mr. Wilson had to say.

First he admitted he hasn’t spent much time with Owens since he signed.

“No I haven’t,” said Wilson. “I don’t know him that well. He’s been a model citizen and is well liked by all the players and has attended most of hte offseason practices. I think he’s going to give us what we need, which is a big, tall wide receiver who loves to play the game. We’re just lucky to get him. I couldn’t believe it (that we got him) when he was free to sign with anybody.”

Word ProFootballWeekly is getting is that Bills WR and punt returner extraordinaire Roscoe Parrish wanted to be traded more than the club wanted to grant his wish. Parrish’s already mild offensive contributions are expected to be reduced further, but the club is hesitant to part ways with such a dynamic special-teams performer without appropriate compensation. If an attractive opportunity does present itself before the midseason trading deadline, the Bills are still open to pulling the trigger.

A decent amount of pressure rests on the young shoulders of Eric Wood and Andy Levitre. The Buffalo Bills need these rookies to perform straight away for an offensive line that’s going through a serious overhaul slathered with skepticism. “We’re going to have five guys probably playing in new positions up front for the Bills,” Wood said at a youth football camp during the four-day NFL Rookie Symposium, which ended Wednesday at PGA National Resort and Spa. Wood and Levitre are projected to be the starting guards, positions they weren’t known for in college.

Maybin’s strength against the run will ultimately decide whether he’ll be able to compete for a starting role at defensive end. At the very least he’ll be a situational pass rusher. Defensive line coach Bob Sanders believes Maybin read run plays well during spring practices, how he holds up when the pads are on will be the determining factor as to whether he can be an every down player. “Aaron is a high energy, talented, and determined young man,” said head coach Dick Jauron. “He gets a little bit better every day through his effort and the application of techniques that are being taught.”

During the last three seasons, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Lee Evans has had to deal with almost constant double teams. That should change in 2009, with a surprise addition to the passing game.

The Bills shocked the league months ago by signing Terrell Owens to a one-year, $6.5 million contract, after Dallas waived the controversial wideout.

“The reduced attention should allow (Evans) to produce more big plays and get into the end zone more than three times,” said Jason Fritz of Buffalo Rumblings. (http://www.buffalorumblings.com)

“Evans is one of the best deep threats in the league, so seeing more single coverage should free him for some more of the big plays we’ve grown accustomed to seeing out of him. I don’t expect him to put up huge numbers, simply because ‘T.O.’ will get his, but 1,000 yards and six to eight touchdowns would be a nice complement to Owens’ production.”

Evans has been the main receiving threat in Buffalo since 2006, when Eric Moulds was released after refusing to take a pay cut. As the No. 1 receiver, his yards-per-catch average was consistent, between 15.4 and 16.1, but his week-to-week production was spotty.

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New Bills WR Terrell Owens gets all of his apologies for the 2009-2010 football season out of the way now.

Footage courtesy of Comedy Central

Reports say that the club feels that they have a shot at matching last season’s total of 56,011, second only to the 57,132 sold in 1992. Group tickets went on sale to the public Saturday. The Bills already have sold out the first four of their seven regular-season games in Orchard Park, and fewer than 3,000 tickets remain for the Miami game which is November 29th.

“We’re really on the cusp of being able to sell out season tickets in the not-too-distant future,” said David H. Wheat, senior vice president of business operations.

“Our medical staff cleared him and he kept pushing them to clear him. Once they said he was OK, and he really wanted to go, that was it,” Jauron said. “I didn’t feel any need for him to practice. Terrence is a player that I have a lot of admiration for, the way he plays the game, how he prepares. He loves to play, so it was good. It worried me a little bit, he was on the ground a couple more times, but it didn’t seem to bother him, so it worked out well.”