GG Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 jw just filed his season preview Not for the weak at heart It is for a team that has nine players left on its roster since 2007 — none of them first-round picks. In fact, the entire 2007 draft class has either been cut or traded, leaving Jackson wondering whether the Bills can ever get it right. "That's always the hope but you just never know," Jackson said. "You've got to keep going out and preparing and hoping that they do finally get it right." ... Nix has provided varying explanations on the Evans trade. Initially, he described the move as one that will allow Buffalo's younger receivers to develop. A few days later, Nix attempted to put the trade behind him by telling The Associated Press that there were a lot of things that went into the deal that he couldn't elaborate on publicly. Nix didn't handle trade talks, leaving that job with Jim Overdorf, the team's salary cap specialist and senior vice president of football administration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave mcbride Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 Yikes. It sounds like Nix basically said "I didn't trade him -- Overdorf did." Ugly stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-9 Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 jw just filed his season preview Not for the weak at heart I just got done reading that article. It's clear to me now that with Overdorf's involvement and Nix's exclusion in the Evans deal, the Bills are in total cost cutting and savings mode. They will most likely do this until they have to meet a cap floor in 2013. In the meantime I fear things are going to get extremely fugly, especially in the locker room. I think we're seeing signs of that already. If Nix and Gailey have any self-respect they'll offer up their resignations. Why would they want to work in their current capacities when their hands are obviously so tied? GO BILLS!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted August 23, 2011 Author Share Posted August 23, 2011 Yikes. It sounds like Nix basically said "I didn't trade him -- Overdorf did." Ugly stuff. Yeah, it does sound like it, doesn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 I'll repost this in this thread, which is the real topic at hand. In answer to K-9's good question of why would Nix stand for this, I stated... This is just my speculation from what I know, have heard from very good sources, and have surmised,. I think that since Overdork handles all of the salary cap stuff and all contracts, he has power over Nix on some aspects of the typical GM job. Overdork has been here forever and he's Ralph's man (who happens to work from behind the curtain). We heard he has cut players before, like Troy Vincent and others, and has that power. So if he thinks he can save 7 mil total this year and next by jettisoning Evans, he can do it and Nix doesn't have much say. But Nix is not going to jeopardize his job, or the organization by publicly announcing it. It's my belief that Nix and gailey were very likely told before they came on board that Overdork holds that power, and there may be times when they are powerless over personnel decisions. It won't happen all the time but it could happen. That may be why a bigger name was not hired, maybe they wouldn't work under those conditions but that is total conjecture. I have not heard that anyway. It seems possible. I also believe that Gailey and Nix are both very qualified for their jobs but they likely weren't going to get this opportunity anywhere else but Buffalo. Nix very unlikely. Gailey probably not either. I think, rightfully, they thought to themselves can I live with this? And at their age, and what they want out of life and their work, they decided yes. Maybe if they were a little younger they could have taken a stand against it. Maybe if they had a little more power or opportunity they could have walked away. All I know is if I were either of them, I would have very likely taken the job like they did, knowing it wasn't ideal. But better than not having a GM job or NFL Head Coach job at all, and never realizing your real dreams. Again, that is just my reading on it. And I can't blame them. But it explains a lot. It also explains why, perhaps, they didn't offer Clabo more. Overdork does the contracts. All of them. I can't honestly say that I know how other NFL teams operate behind the scenes but I doubt any one of them has a bean counter making these kinds of football and personnel decisions as opposed to a GM and talent evaluator who learned how to work the cap and negotiate contracts. Overdork never was a talent guy or football guy, he is a glorified accountant (GG says he's a lawyer, which I believe is true but to me he is acting as accountant not a lawyer). And he is making football decisions like getting rid of Lee Evans. It is no wonder we are where we are. It's possible that Nix and Gailey can overcome this handicap. But it surely makes it much harder. And not all of the grumbling by guys like Fred Jackson can be put on them. Look for the Man Behind the Curtain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefenseWins Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 I just got done reading that article. It's clear to me now that with Overdorf's involvement and Nix's exclusion in the Evans deal, the Bills are in total cost cutting and savings mode. They will most likely do this until they have to meet a cap floor in 2013. In the meantime I fear things are going to get extremely fugly, especially in the locker room. I think we're seeing signs of that already. If Nix and Gailey have any self-respect they'll offer up their resignations. Why would they want to work in their current capacities when their hands are obviously so tied? GO BILLS!!! THE MONEY!!!! THat's Why!!! Beats working as a Greeter at Walmart.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 I'll repost this in this thread, which is the real topic at hand. In answer to K-9's good question of why would Nix stand for this, I stated... This is just my speculation from what I know, have heard from very good sources, and have surmised,. I think that since Overdork handles all of the salary cap stuff and all contracts, he has power over Nix on some aspects of the typical GM job. Overdork has been here forever and he's Ralph's man (who happens to work from behind the curtain). We heard he has cut players before, like Troy Vincent and others, and has that power. So if he thinks he can save 7 mil total this year and next by jettisoning Evans, he can do it and Nix doesn't have much say. But Nix is not going to jeopardize his job, or the organization by publicly announcing it. It's my belief that Nix and gailey were very likely told before they came on board that Overdork holds that power, and there may be times when they are powerless over personnel decisions. It won't happen all the time but it could happen. That may be why a bigger name was not hired, maybe they wouldn't work under those conditions but that is total conjecture. I have not heard that anyway. It seems possible. I also believe that Gailey and Nix are both very qualified for their jobs but they likely weren't going to get this opportunity anywhere else but Buffalo. Nix very unlikely. Gailey probably not either. I think, rightfully, they thought to themselves can I live with this? And at their age, and what they want out of life and their work, they decided yes. Maybe if they were a little younger they could have taken a stand against it. Maybe if they had a little more power or opportunity they could have walked away. All I know is if I were either of them, I would have very likely taken the job like they did, knowing it wasn't ideal. But better than not having a GM job or NFL Head Coach job at all, and never realizing your real dreams. Again, that is just my reading on it. And I can't blame them. But it explains a lot. It also explains why, perhaps, they didn't offer Clabo more. Overdork does the contracts. All of them. I can't honestly say that I know how other NFL teams operate behind the scenes but I doubt any one of them has a bean counter making these kinds of football and personnel decisions as opposed to a GM and talent evaluator who learned how to work the cap and negotiate contracts. Overdork never was a talent guy or football guy, he is a glorified accountant (GG says he's a lawyer, which I believe is true but to me he is acting as accountant not a lawyer). And he is making football decisions like getting rid of Lee Evans. It is no wonder we are where we are. It's possible that Nix and Gailey can overcome this handicap. But it surely makes it much harder. And not all of the grumbling by guys like Fred Jackson can be put on them. Look for the Man Behind the Curtain. Wow. Obviously this is backwards. I know the steelers have a cap whiz, but my understanding is that he doesn't wield such power. So overdorf determined that a 4th rounder was good value? I'm at least hoping he went to Nix and Gailey and asked whether they could live without Evans, as opposed to just issuing an edict. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 So, in other words, Jim Overdorf is going to be the next Tom Modrak? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jahnyc Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 In a series of depressing developments, this is possibly the most depressing. If true, not giving the GM and the coach the ability or the authority to improve this team or keep players is horrible. I am always amused at the "we are doomed" posts, but maybe this is where we are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 In a series of depressing developments, this is possibly the most depressing. If true, not giving the GM and the coach the ability or the authority to improve this team or keep players is horrible. I am always amused at the "we are doomed" posts, but maybe this is where we are. I don't think this is a development. I think this has always been the case, at least since Donohoe was here, when he had all authority. Ralph crawled back into a cave when he gave TD total control, and then felt like he completely lost his team. So he renamed himself President and he put back his own henchmen Overdork and Littman in charge. He soon got Marv back whom he trusted, but that didn't work. He put a marketer in as GM who didn't really have GM normal duties because Overdork, Littman, Jauron and Modrak/John Guy split all of them. No wonder we have been terrible for a decade. But this isn't new. Ralph made decisions like this well before Donohoe, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucci Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 Many here, including me, have felt that Littman and Overdorf run this team. It absolutely blows that we have business men making personnel moves. Unfortunately, this team will never win with this set up. I think at Ralph's age he doesn't make any decisions anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan714 Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 The more things change, the more they stay the same in Bills land. I think were looking at 2 full decades of suckitude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zulu Cthulhu Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 Reading that was like a punch in the gut. We wonder why Buffalo doesn't attract more free agent talent? Look at the attitudes of the guys on the team currently. I don't blame leaders like Jackson and Florence for complaining - i feel bad for them and the other guys. This s**t trickles down from the very top, and is just one big middle finger to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albany,n.y. Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 Yikes. It sounds like Nix basically said "I didn't trade him -- Overdorf did." Ugly stuff. Another reason to doubt Nix. I doubt Ralph would ever do it again after the Donahoe disaster, but our tpo football guy has to have complete control over all personnel decisions. If Buddy isn't up to the job, it's time for him to retire again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wiz Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 In a series of depressing developments, this is possibly the most depressing. If true, not giving the GM and the coach the ability or the authority to improve this team or keep players is horrible. I am always amused at the "we are doomed" posts, but maybe this is where we are. With respect to whoever normally posts this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTfWOhDGifY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stony Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 Reading that was like a punch in the gut. We wonder why Buffalo doesn't attract more free agent talent? Look at the attitudes of the guys on the team currently. I don't blame leaders like Jackson and Florence for complaining - i feel bad for them and the other guys. This s**t trickles down from the very top, and is just one big middle finger to us. Your post sums up pretty well my feelings right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FistingBot Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 Many here, including me, have felt that Littman and Overdorf run this team. It absolutely blows that we have business men making personnel moves. Unfortunately, this team will never win with this set up. I think at Ralph's age he doesn't make any decisions anymore. Yeah, it seems that many Bills fans are still under the delusion that the "football transactions" the team makes (or doesn't make) are actually about football and not about economics. I posted twice in the Evans trade thread that the move was clearly about cost cutting but was drowned out by the standard "Lee wasn't any good" responses. I think you're absolutely correct that the team is being run more as a profit-maximizing business franchise than as a record-maximizing sports team. Very sad for us the long-suffering fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KollegeStudnet Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 I'm proudly wearing my "Bills Football" tshirt in Utah today...I've been made fun of twice! I'll continue to wear my prideful tshirt....until this 12+ rebuilding year project decides to come to frutition! I'll admit...I was in my early teens when this team was in the playoffs last...I would like to see this team back in the playoffs before I TURN 30! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdand12 Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 bad things man. Bad things... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST MODE BABY! Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 SaviorEdwards Savior Edwards Source: Power struggle at OBD creating 'an ugly mess' that is spilling over into lockerroom. SaviorEdwards Savior Edwards Source: Jim Overdorf overruled Buddy Nix on Lee Evans trade when a better offer for a 3rd round pick was on the table from another team. WOW If true, we're in deep doo-doo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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