BillsVet

Evidently not. It will be like Judge Smails finding a caddy in his house times 12,000

Nix reports to Mr. Smithers who reports to Mr. Burns. Watching that PC, I thought RW may have mentioned some 50s and 60s stars a la Burns in the famous Simpsons episode, Homer at the Bat. Seriously, there hasn't been a house cleaning yet and the anticipated moves are just that.

I know someone mentioned it before, but Billick has a book that came out a few months back, More Than A Game. Clearly, he didn't author each and every word, but it's interesting to read the observations of a HC who's been out of the league for two seasons now. Billick does talk about failing to find a QB (which BTW is an organizational failure, not simply a HC's doing) and the fact that Baltimore allocated significant resources, particularly cap dollars, to their defense. Yeah, the guy's arrogant and he has his faults. But there's not a lot inspiring out there with experience besides the name Cowher. It seems like the more anyone delves into deciding on a HC, the more people find wrong with each candidate.

I think it was that noted philosopher Bum Phillips who once said, “There are two types of coaches, them that have just been fired and them that are going to be fired.” How many coaches actually retire as HC's? Not many, because the bad to average ones eventually just aren't hired anymore. Whomever the Bills hire will be either an assistant or someone who's been fired.

Certainly each team features a slightly different management structure. Polian is the team president and oversees more than most in Indianapolis. A team like the Chiefs has Pioli as GM with Denny Thum the team president overseeing all non-football operations. Pioli makes the football decision and huddles with Clark Hunt. Here in Buffalo, Nix will report to Brandon, who will then go to RW. The question is how much control does Nix have over football operations. Brandon's elevation to CEO, which I think can be equated to team president (i.e. day to day ops), means he's overseeing football and business subjects. My opinion is Brandon's background means showing a profit is the more critical objective. That said, there's a lot that remains to be seen. But each team has a management structure that is built on the owner's management style.

But even if Nix gets to put his list together, we all know it has to run through Brandon before getting to Wilson. At some point, football decisions will reach Brandon's desk for his decision. And that's the part worrisome to most people: Smithers' mentality is dollars and Nix has been charged with rebuilding a winner. Brandon's been around for a long time, and has Wilson's confidence. His mere presence in reporting to RW is something Nix will have to negotiate in his new role. It comes down to how much influence Nix will have, or whether as TD said, there will be "limitations."

I'm reading Brian Billick's latest book, More than A Game, and he admits that's true. However, an owner isn't the person who understands what a coach does, and if he hires a GM to hire the coach, should take the GM's advice. Of course there are financial considerations, but overall the owner cannot micromanage the decision.

We know Smithers, even as COO/GM, could not fire the HC. And that was 6 weeks ago. Now, a "real football" GM is introduced and there's still talk that RW has say on the HC? I won't believe there's a shake-up coming until some moves are made, like getting rid of Modrak, Guy, and Overdorf. They need to slam the door on the TD years and trust someone they hire to get it right this time.

It's a total rebuild. Team's aren't built around the skill positions. That may be cliche, but this is a defense yielding 160 yards plus per game rushing. Sure there's some talent in the secondary, but that's not as key as a pass rush and stout DT's. The LB corps is comprised of 2 players, one of whom is on IR and has been for some time. Any "name" HC does not want a rebuild and given the money it will take to sign them, must produce results right away. For this reason, I don't see Cowher going to Buffalo.

I'm guessing intuition. Rivera's interviewed for four HC jobs: Arizona, Pittsburgh, Dallas and San Diego since 2006.

Nix said early in the PC that his hiring was a whirlwind thing. He did not expect, upon being hired last year, to be the GM. They did not hire him with the intent of making him a General Manager, it came about within the past week.

I'll believe it when I see it. It's been 30 years since RW when with the big name HC.

And your point exactly is what?

There were no other outside the organization candidates considered. We know this because none were interviewed and the NFL regular season hasn't yet concluded. It doesn't matter if they had a list. Nix said this was a whirlwind thing, which I'm guessing started within the past week and grew. They made their decision in the past 10 days, which leaves little time. There is no question they had no intention of going outside the organization.

19 Days of posting and you've diagnosed the ills of TBD? Sure, why not. BTW, I'll name 20 GM's: Tannenbaum (NYJ), Ireland (MIA), Newsome (BAL), M. Brown (CIN), Colbert (PIT), Polian (IND), Xanders (DEN), Smith (SD) Pioli (KC), Davis (OAK), J. Reese (NYG) Reid/Heckert (PHI), Allen (WAS), Jones (DAL), Angelo (CHI) Mayhew (DET), Spielman (MIN), Thompson (GB), Dimitroff (ATL), Hurney (CAR), Devaney (STL), and F. Reese/Belichick (NE) off the top of my head.

I always like to talk about promotions in any arena based on something I learned in the Army: individuals are promoted not for what they've done, but because they demonstrate the potential to lead at higher levels. I have no doubt that Nix is a capable talent evaluator as a scout and personnel director, but it's a huge leap from that level to NFL GM. For the record, Polian became a GM in his mid 40s. He was promoted by RW, who was also quite a bit younger and I'd argue had more of his faculties back then. That was a case, in RW's words, of getting lucky because BP knew how to do it 24 years ago. Your point in comparing BP to BN is a poor attempt at conflating the argument.

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.