BillsVet

There's no need to be sarcastic here. But I will say I gained a lot of insight into what it means to be a real NFL GM by reading, The GM by Tom Callahan. It profiles former GM Ernie Accorsi's 2006 Giants season and I highly recommend it. Furthermore, each team has a general hierarchy in place. There's the Pro Personnel Department and College Scouting Department. The GM oversees those along with managing the salary cap, negotiating contracts, and hiring a head coach. During the season, there are player transactions that must be made, in addition to the off-season when an evaluation of UFA's/RFA's, a team's own players, and available college players takes place. On draft day, the GM runs the draft room and has built a cohesive strategy of how he wants the football team to be. This is something he develops with his HC, and personnel directors. Last but not least, the GM has a final say on the roster going into the regular season. He must have a close relationship with the HC, but still be able to evaluate as the season progresses. It is an extremely busy job and not one for the faint of heart. I have doubts on whether someone at age 70 who's never undertaken such a massive responsibility is cut out for it. Nix wants a HC with experience, but he himself hasn't had any as a GM.

There is a difference between being a talent evaluator or working as a General Manager. Scouts are talent evaluators. And to a higher level, so are Directors of Pro Personnel and College Scouting. Do you have any idea what a GM is responsible for? It's more than just scouting I can tell you that.

I don't know who the NFL exec Florio is citing, but one thing strikes me about the decision to promote from within. The fact that Wilson/Mr. Smithers didn't know the candidates like Gettelman, Studwell, another others. One way to get to know them in through the interview process. It's almost as if they quit looking before they even started. Is Mr. Smithers afraid of someone he doesn't know coming in an lobbing hand grenades at the operation the former has run for two years now? And will Nix have the authority to fire people that need to go? Either way, it's nothing against Nix, but I was surprised to hear, like Modrak, that he didn't help handle day to day operations in SD during his time, nor work in their central offices.

CB97-Dimitroff earned his rep with NE in personnel. But he had the potential to be a GM. We'll see on Nix, particularly whether he has the control we all want him to have. And for the record, Ryan didn't simply fall into his lap. If the draft is a crap shoot like many say it is (and it's not) then QB's don't fall into anyone's lap-EVER. You have to find those types. P. Manning, McNabb, could easily have been Leaf, Tim Couch, or Akili Smith. I still think next year will be a rebuilding year.

For the record, Marv Levy said many of the same things that Nix did today nearly 4 years ago. Those are widely spoken about theories. Actually doing that is another matter.

When he fires Guy, Modrak, and/or Overdorf, it will signal something new. And, when he hires a proven HC. Until that time, I won't believe he even has the authority to do anything more than handle personnel. It is the Bills after all.

People wanted Casserly or Wolf as consultants to help Mr. Smithers pick a GM, not be the actual GM. People were talking about Dave Gettleman because he at one time worked with Polian and has handled pro personnel for a very successful team in the NY Giants. Floyd Reese is currently the senior football advisor for the Patriots. Reasonable and logical fans wanted someone younger to fill the GM position who had GM experience.

If it happened a year ago today, we'd have the double whammy: DJ retained on 12/30 and Buddy Nix as GM on 12/31. It didn't happen a year ago, so it doesn't matter. It happened today. Thinking in hypotheticals is worthless.

That's just it, this franchise always has an out when it comes to draft picks. Now, they can say it was DJ's fault whenever something goes awry. Modrak has been part and parcel of each draft since 2001. So naturally he doesn't get any blame because TD was here. We've had him for 9 seasons now, so his book is pretty much written. We've give him 9 years, 4 of which weren't with TD. Does that mean those 4 can be blamed on DJ? See a trend here? Only the guy who's not here is to blame.

Nothing against Buddy, but he retired and came out of it early this year? How many NFL GM's were pulled out of retirement and eventually headed an organization? At 68, he was the #2 in SD with no other team interested in making him their GM, despite several opportunities. The Falcons chose Tom Dimitroff over Nix not all that long ago. I know/knew a lot of people that are talented in a single area, but weren't cut out for management. And so they advanced to a certain level. Buddy Nix is probably a great scout and personnel director. Now he's in charge of a whole lot more. This isn't about complaining. It's constructive criticism of an organization, that as we all know, is 0 for its last 10 in playoff appearances. Pardon me for not trusting what they do. Now, if they hire Cowher, well fine. But that's not happening. I see them getting a Jim Fassel type.

Jerry's consistent griping about Buffalo making the playoffs, winning against the Patriots, and keeping a great roster stocked with superior talent is getting old. Sure, there's a lot to get excited about. Forgive Jerry for not trusting Bills management to do the right thing.

I love how so many Bills fans are upset that other fans are angry with this move. After all, with a track record like Buffalo has, they should not be praised at the outset. Look at the last few men RW has hired as GM, and it's clear that the owner does not know football men or operations. I'm fine with trusting teams like the Giants, Eagles, Chargers, Colts, Steelers, and Patriots. They've earned a solid rep from years of NFL success. They have the benefit of the doubt whenever they make a move and that remains until they devolve into perennial losers. OTOH, the Bills haven't done anything right in a decade, yet look at how many fans are confident this one move is going to work. Where does this unbridled confidence come from? IMO, when the team is so bad for so long, they've lost credibility. Until they earn it back, the only natural thing to be is skeptical. Buddy Nix is a straight shooter. But if he doesn't have authority over football ops, it doesn't matter. He must have the authority to change the franchise. And I'm not sure he does.

I like this point the most. As a leader of people, anytime you say you're not that bright it makes them wonder how capable you are. The question, given this organization, is how much control will Nix have? How much interference does he get from RW, Littman, Mr. Smithers, and Overdorf? Levy came in and made no changes. Brandon was technically GM and made no changes. Now Nix is in and we're wondering if he will even be able to make changes, as in firing Modrak, Guy, and Overdorf. I don't think so.

And you've got to be lucky. As in, lightning striking twice in the 50 year history of the team.

It's not enough to simply hire a football man, which is lost on most fans. That's not the bare minimum criteria here. People who work in management peak in their career around their late 40s/50s. Not in their 70s. And that is especially the case here. The NFL is a young to middle aged man's business environment. Russ is young, but has never been trained in personnel. Nix is old and never proved enough to get a NFL GM job. Look around the league and tell me how many 70+year old GM's there are. If Buffalo is the only one, there's an issue. Kinda like when the team didn't have a GM from 2006-2009.

Fewell. He comes recommended from Ralph/Littman/Brandon/Overdorf. Actually, he comes ordered from them.

You don't understand something quite simple: 70 year old men don't get their first GM gig in the NFL. It doesn't happen. If by the age of 70 with many years in the NFL a guy hasn't gotten the top football job for a NFL team, there's a pretty darn good reason why. Some people a #1's, some are #2's, and most aren't even that. Buddy has a fine track record, but there no coincidence that he wasn't hired before as GM. Besides, how long is he going to be around? Most men (Ron Wolf, et al) are retired by this point. They found someone who works cheap, won't stand up to Littman/Ralph, and is just happy to have the job.

To me, and I'll go conspiracy theory for a moment, this is another move to bide time until the owner's passing for the team to be sold to the highest bidder. They cannot make long term plans, as their owner's advanced age dictates everything. The fact that they refuse to hire a GM from the outside tells me they've got stuff to hide. They don't want anyone knowing, and Nix doesn't need long term security, i.e. 5 years, like a younger guy does. Sad sack organization.

UN ing believable. Well, believeable with Ralph being the owner he is. Now Fewell can be retained. Happy New Year!

Best post of the thread.

So A.J. Smith did nothing but sit back and watch Buddy do his wonder work? If that's the case, wouldn't the rest of the league know Smith was a figurehead and Nix played Coach Klein to Red Beaulieu? Common sense isn't so common anymore.

Expectations are low and people have been mentally trained to accept less. 10 years of bad football have taken too many to this point. And it's because they follow no other NFL football but the Bills, which means it's been a decade since a real front office was in place. And because they fear not supporting the team will force them to move. They don't understand the team moves or doesn't regardless of them.

It won't.

I've held off long enough: How old are you? 12?

So why did Brandon go "underground" as Chris Brown pointed out in the Atlanta Bills Backers meeting or whatever it was? Did he have the H1N1, or is he really on the witness protection program...cause if the Bills do this move we're all thinking, then, he may need help from the FBI. Just kidding of course.