Bills name Buddy Nix new General Manager

OK. So Nix is a proven comodity in terms of talent evaluation, but this sure seems like an insestuous move. This is not a great “shake things up” kind of move.

The current regime isn’t working and this keeps the same paradigm in place. This was a move most likely driven by Ralph Wilson’s need for comfort when making decisions and his whole “circle of trust” issues he has.

I am not happy with this move. We need new blood, all this is a shifting of parts, real change is necessary!

Promoting from within? Really? Look, I think Nix is an excellent talent evaluator and his pedigree of working with Butler makes this valid, if it weren’t for the fact that he’s been here for a year. I am just so sick of this promote from within attitude around here. Go out and get the best guy. No offense to Perry Fewell, as I think he is a good coach and deserving of this opportunity, but I want a clean slate in this organization. If the next press conference is to decide to keep Perry on as coach I am going to seriously consider not renewing my season tickets for 2010.

Awesome. Another guy over 65 years old to run a football team w/ it’s 91 year old out of touch owner. Great job Bills. How fitting this hire is on the last day of the worst decade in the history of the organization.

This team continues to embarrass itself and it’s fans. Can’t wait till we do this all over again in 4 years.

Unless, this move somehow includes Bill Cowher all I can say is: Wow, are you really that stupid, old senile Ralph?!

I mean, one would think he had figured out that there’s a reason why Bills-fans hate him these days and consider him a loser-owner, but now he gives us this crap?!

I hope people start realizing that all Ralph cares about is money! He tries to get us all excited (woohoo, we’re actually interviewing Shanahan, Cowher) then to give us this pile of crap.
I’m sick and disgusted by this organisation and it’s becoming more and more clear to me that Ralph really is NFL’s worst owner, because he just loves losing.

I hope people start boycotting this team’s games

Typical Ralf move. Stick with who you know, not the best candidate for the job. Our big splash just got a little smaller.

he was AJ Smith’s assistant and lookat how that team has become a perrenial power house… i really think that he has what it takes to make this a winnig franchise and i am glad to see that the FO is starting to take shape…now we will probably hire Jim Haslett and start turning this thing around

Just added to the story: Schefter reports that Russ Brandon has a new title, and it’s CEO. Sounds like Nix is reporting to Brandon.

At this point I’m happy with anyone not named Russ as our GM. I agree with Brian, there’s a good chance that we was hired originally for the sole purpose of evaluating the team before they promoted him.

I’ll reserve judgment on this guy until after the draft.

While this isn’t what I hoped for, I’ll do the wait and see thing. Hell, he was part of the team that helped build a pretty impressive Chargers team. Let’s wait and see before we blast the old man (both of them).

Why make this move now? Why not try to go after some of the names that have been talked about here? If they all turned Ralf down, then fine….make this move. Why do the Bills always have to settle for good enough?

Read some stuff about NIx. I think as opposed to Eric Decosta or anyone else on our shortlist, Nix wants to be here. I’d rather have a guy who wants to be here. He is a proven talent evaluator and has helped draft a good amount of pro bowlers for san diego

He’s 70 and i’d have preferred they wait and interview candidates from teams still playing for the post season.

This is WTF news for me.

Assuming Modrak and Guy are relieved of their duties, Nix has the pedigree to be a valid candidate, but why not make sure you have the best guy by putting Nix in a pool with other applicants? I agree that he’s not a true promotion from within, but why not complete you due diligence?

As I’ve stated a couple of times now, as long as he fires both Modrak and Nix, and brings in a strong HC, I’ll be able to live with this.
The guy is certainly a strong scout, but I would much rather have had a guy from the outside, though you can argue that Nix is that guy and that he essentially has been overviewing the organisation and its flaws the last years time.

Nothing has changed. They need a press conference to announce this? And why are Modrak and Guy still around? What’s the holdup with the monumental decision to send them packing? Or do we come up with new titles for them too? I can now understand why this blockbuster hire wasn’t leaked sooner…who cares?

So far, nothing has changed my decision to not renew my season tickets.

Look like the Cowher rumor was just that, a baseless rumor.

He’s a guy who’s been apparently a key part of a succesful football operation in San Diego. Heck I dont even mind him answering to Brandon. Im assuming that Nix doesn’t have a lot of experience in negotiating contracts. So If Nix is in charge of talent evaluation and Brandon’s in charge of getting them signed then I can deal with it.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Buddy-Nix/1466783421

Who is tied to Nix from the HC ranks? Marty is the one that comes up. I don’t think I am up for that…

I certainly know that he won’t be the one with the creative offensive game plan or developing our Franchise QB.

This definitely feels like promotiing from within, and his age is obviously the biggest red flag to me, but I am not willing to jump to conclusions before we see what he can do.

If this past year’s draft class is any inidication, he is a good evaluator of talent. Hopefully he can put together a strong staff that all agree on the direction of the team.

Having been contacted by the Bills this week and now knowing that our GM was here all along, I think Buffalo sees Weis as their top candidate. Me thinks the main reason is that Notre Dame will be paying most of his salary.

bb.com

If nothing else, this is a step in the right direction. The Bills finally have a legitimate General Manager, who can begin a legitimate rebuilding process the right way. And here is a nice little excerpt from Chris Brown:

Widely considered by some as one of the top five talent evaluators in the NFL, 28 Chargers drafted by Nix went to Pro Bowls in just four years (2004-07).

sorry if this has been posted… but what title did Nix hold over the past 11 months with us?

You know, I don’t think I have a problem with this hire. What were we looking for in a GM? Someone who has a track record of draft success working for a winning organization. Someone perhaps with ties to Buffalo.

I feel like the reaction I’m seeing is more of a reaction against the perceived quality of anyone associated with the current regime. Let’s let it roll, and see where it takes us.

Russ Brandon being promoted to CEO means this was all about Brandon retaining his power and influence. No real GM would come in here and work for or alongside a salesman, so instead they promoted from within. If you don’t think Brandon will have influence with football decisions as the CEO you’re kidding yourselves.Brandon will be the death of this franchise, he has no business being CEO.

better than a kick to the nuts

but after seconds more to think… this is terrible. No shake up, just more of the same. To even think Midrak was thought of for the position and he will still be here is ridiculous. We are in bad shape….

but could it be – part of the theory – that they wanted a GM fast so they can go out and get a top flight coach and not have to pick the GM then the coach? or would you “nix” that idea?? hahahahah awww i hate puns

Sounds like the Bills just came to him 7-8 days ago and asked if he’d consider it (makes me wonder how thorough Ralph and Russ were to the process or the candidates?)

“Crucial Time” for hiring a Head Coach. A lot will be put into finding this person and being sure they are good teachers, leaders, and possibly have done it before.

Strengths are Football and Personnel decisions.

Bills are not far away, but probably won’t be doing much in the next 2-3 years.

Aaron Maybin needs 3 years to develop before he is considered a player or bust.

We can bring in a top head coaching talent/name as long as they feel they want the the challenge of turning around a team and building a winner (sure why would any head coach want to go to a team that is already a winner with proven players, they all want to coach the bad new bears)

Free agency should only be used for middle or lower tier talented guys when the period starts, not on top free agent talent. Then after the draft an evaluation where they still need help after the draft. Reward the players on your roster (so we should have paid Jason Peters then???)

There is a “list” of head coaches to be considered (my guess it is like the “list” of GM’s they used… very short with some Buffalo connections. Welcome Marty Schottenheimer)

Need for importance of strengthening and conditioning of players to avoid injuries. The past 2-3 years have not been good in that area (John Allarie – your fired)

He’s obviously mentaly incompetent……..jk

Need for importance of strengthening and conditioning of players to avoid injuries. The past 2-3 years have not been good in that area (John Allarie – your fired)

No kidding…bring in Billy Blanks, Mr. Miagi, the Duracell Bunny, Randy Coutre….I don’t care who, as long as they toughen up these kids!

… it might actually work out. The guy is not a moron.
BUT, the only “Big Splash” I think Bills fans are going to hear this offseason is the splash they hear every morning in the porcelain bowl after a cup of coffee before they go to work.

What surprises me the most about all of this is that they didn’t even interview guys like Eric DeCosta, Tom Telesco, Dave Gettleman, Jimmy Raye III or anybody (with the exception of Shanahan and perhaps Cowher). They just supposedly pursued Shanahan really hard and they realized he wasn’t going to take it, then they go to their contigency-plan, which apparently was “surprise, surprise” promoting from within and they elect Buddy Nix as the next GM.
I just can’t fathom why the heck they didn’t even give other guys like the four I mentioned an interview, which apparently tells you that what Ralph wanted more than anything was a proven guy, who has been there and done that; something I actually respect, but I still don’t get why we didn’t at the very least hear some of the other guys out, especially when this process was supposed to be a very thorough one.
The upside to this is that Nix has a ton of connections in this league and knows a lot of strong-minded people that can get it done, and frankly it wouldn’t surprise me one bit, if this move was made towards getting Schottenheimer out of retirement and back as HC of the Bills.

Previously the Bills coaching job was more attractive because it could have included a GM and HC role. Like Parcells always say, if you’re going to cook something, you want to get the ingredients yourself.

You can not look at this as the Bills just promoting another internal guy. I’m not going to look at his age or anything other than what Nix has been a part of throughout his career. From 2004 to 2007 there were 28 pro bowlers drafted under Nix. That is all I need to know right there. One of the biggest downfalls of this team is drafting talent. We have all shown our disgust about this at one time or another. This is, in my opinion, the solution to the problem. I also believe, yet a trying to be reserve with aniticipated excitement, that this will help open the door for the possibility of Bill Cowher to take the Coaching position in Buffalo. I think this could be a very positive spin for this organization. I can’t wait!!!

but Marty is going to stay retired, any thoughts on Nix turning towards the son, Brian?

I’m not a big fan of Brian Sch., but the apple couldnt fall far from the tree (meaning his dad).

Not a huge fan of such a quick hire and I absolutely hate that its a hire from within. At least Nix is well respected and has had success in his roles before.

I just wish some young, outside choices were interviewed. I’m sick of this continuity crap since it hasn’t worked and won’t work if many of these pieces stay in place. I hope Nix cleans house. He HAS to.

At least we can move forward with a proven talent evaluator leading the way. I hope the next move is bringing in fresh minds and replacing the current failures. Let’s also hope Nix and Brandon can attract a quality HC candidate.

As I said, I’m not a huge fan of the promotion, but it could be worse. At least Nix is a legit talent guy, although its very questionable as to whether he can succeed as the final say. Thankfully, this should be better than the terrible Levy hire.

Wasn’t COO enough of a title to have GM Nix report to him? Does Executive Officer mean more in the football world than Operating Officer? Does anyone think that there was a pay raise with this new title? Ralph seemed to suggest in his kidding that it wasn’t a promotion but a change in title. Is Brandon that good of a sales guy to give him self the opportunity to get a raise with all this change?

Just another head scratcher at OBD in my opinion.

Where has he been? What has he accomplished?

1. This is a good move if he, like Mactruck suggested, fires Modrak and Guy, surrounds himself with new people, and especially finds a guy who can be his successor in 2 years or so when he’s all done.

2. It’s a bad move if modrak and guy stay

3. In a way, didn’t we just get the right hand man from one of the most successful organizations in the league? Isn’t that what we wanted?

4. Did Jairus Byrd just win this guy a job?

5. Why do I think this gives us a better shot at getting Cowher? Call me crazy, but that’s my gut feeling.

If this guy is so compelling a choice for GM that RW doesn’t seriously look at other candidates, why did it take him 40 years to get a GM position?