While Buffalo Bills fans contemplate rumors that GM Buddy Nix is planning to retire following the 2012 NFL Draft - thereby handing over control of his football operation to Assistant GM Doug Whaley - more fans should now be pondering whether or not Whaley will even be with Buffalo at that time.
Bob Kravitz of The Indianapolis Star, in discussing who might take over for Bill Polian as head of the football operation with the Indianapolis Colts, is "hearing" three names associated with the gig. One of them is Tom Ciskowski, who took over for Jeff Ireland in running the Dallas Cowboys' scouting operation. One of them is Reggie McKenzie, a pro personnel director with the Green Bay Packers.
The third name is Doug Whaley. The former Pittsburgh Steelers pro personnel coordinator has been in Buffalo for a little less than two years, and who received a promotion last May, now overseeing both college and pro scouting operations.
Whaley has long been considered an up-and-comer in the business, and he's been considered Nix's successor as Bills GM essentially from the moment he was hired in February 2010. That plan will need to change, however, if Whaley becomes the successful candidate for another opening - and if Kravitz is right, his first look may be from Indy.