Russ Brandon Buffalo Bills approval poll: July 2013

Buffalo Bills training camp is right around the corner, and as part of the lead-in to the first major football event of the 2013 season, we're going to be running final off-season approval polls on the team's three most important front office figures: Russ Brandon, Doug Whaley and Doug Marrone.

We'll start with Brandon, the new team president as of January 1 and the man ultimately responsible for the decisions to hire Marrone in January and promote Whaley to his new post in May (after previous GM Buddy Nix, the recipient of Brandon's staunch support through the pre-draft process, stepped down).

Most recently, Brandon's name has been associated with the contract impasse between the Bills and franchised free safety Jairus Byrd. Brandon and Jim Overdorf are thought to be the Bills' lead points of contact on the negotiation front; the Bills and Byrd's agent, Eugene Parker, reportedly did not negotiate at all in the week leading up to Monday's deadline for a long-term deal, and the impasse could very well continue into camp and pre-season play, as well.

You're well aware of the roster transactions that have occurred this off-season on Brandon's watch; it's worth remembering that the Bills in Toronto Series was extended, that single-game ticket prices were raised (they remained static for season ticket holders), a list of forthcoming upgrades to Ralph Wilson Stadium was released, and dating back to last December, a new 10-year lease for the Ralph was agreed to, as well. It's been a busy off-season for the team president, to say the least.