BuffaloRush Posted March 23, 2018 Posted March 23, 2018 Working on my popular blog post "Hits and Misses: How Successful Was GM Buddy Nix in The Draft," made me wonder - do my fellow Bills fans think Buddy Nix a good GM? In my opinion, I will say NO he was not a good GM. People complain about the tenure's of Marv Levy and Russ Brandon as GM, but the winning percentage of the Bills was actually much higher under Levy (14-18) and Brandon (13-19) than Buddy(16-32). He had some good draft picks in Gilmore, Cordy, Marcell. Buddy also should be credited with the trade of Jerry Hughes for Kelvin Sheppard (which his assistant Doug Whaley was heavily involved with). He also had a really cool accent and a "hip for an old guy" look. But there's a lot that he didn't do well including missing on many other selections including drafting Torrell Troupe over Rob Gronkowski and then wasting a very high draft pick on CJ Spiller when the team was stacked at RB. Buddy also mismanaged the QB position by hitching his wagon to Ryan Fitzpatrick as his franchise QB and signing him to a long-term deal which hindered their salary cap. In the process he put off the decision to draft a QB of future and passed on several prospects. In the end, Buddy put the team in "QB purgatory" resulting in ridiculous over-drafting of EJ Manuel in round 1 (which Doug Whaley was heavily involved). Then there's free agency - Buddy never seemed to get that right. He would tend to overpay very average talents (Dwan Edwards, Brad Smith, Erik Pearz) and severely overpay good talents (Matio Williams, Mark Anderson, Spencer Johnson). Unlike some of the great Bills GM's, he never really had a great free agent signing. But I am sure someone will make the argument for Buddy being a good GM. In the end, I don't think his tenure as GM really helped the team. Instead you can make the argument he left them worse off than the previous regime
jtothebrown Posted March 23, 2018 Posted March 23, 2018 Who really cares? Hes long gone, and most of who he drafted is too! 1 1
Buffalo716 Posted March 23, 2018 Posted March 23, 2018 I really don't think of Good ol Buddy Nix too much but he definitely started the rejuvenation of the Bills bedsides some questionable decisions he brought in NFL talent 1 1
26CornerBlitz Posted March 23, 2018 Posted March 23, 2018 Just now, jtothebrown said: Who really cares? Hes long gone, and most of who he drafted is too! 16-32. He's gone. Onward! 1 1
BringBackOrton Posted March 23, 2018 Posted March 23, 2018 Buddy Nix drafted many blue chip talents, acquired some blue chip talents in FA, but never found a QB. His era is largely over from top to bottom on this roster, but the best players from 2010 - 2017 were almost all his doing. 6 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said: Working on my popular blog post "Hits and Misses: How Successful Was GM Buddy Nix in The Draft," made me wonder - do my fellow Bills fans think Buddy Nix a good GM? In my opinion, I will say NO he was not a good GM. People complain about the tenure's of Marv Levy and Russ Brandon as GM, but the winning percentage of the Bills was actually much higher under Levy (14-18) and Brandon (13-19) than Buddy(16-32). He had some good draft picks in Gilmore, Cordy, Marcell. Buddy also should be credited with the trade of Jerry Hughes for Kelvin Sheppard (which his assistant Doug Whaley was heavily involved with). He also had a really cool accent and a "hip for an old guy" look. But there's a lot that he didn't do well including missing on many other selections including drafting Torrell Troupe over Rob Gronkowski and then wasting a very high draft pick on CJ Spiller when the team was stacked at RB. Buddy also mismanaged the QB position by hitching his wagon to Ryan Fitzpatrick as his franchise QB and signing him to a long-term deal which hindered their salary cap. In the process he put off the decision to draft a QB of future and passed on several prospects. In the end, Buddy put the team in "QB purgatory" resulting in ridiculous over-drafting of EJ Manuel in round 1 (which Doug Whaley was heavily involved). Then there's free agency - Buddy never seemed to get that right. He would tend to overpay very average talents (Dwan Edwards, Brad Smith, Erik Pearz) and severely overpay good talents (Matio Williams, Mark Anderson, Spencer Johnson). Unlike some of the great Bills GM's, he never really had a great free agent signing. But I am sure someone will make the argument for Buddy being a good GM. In the end, I don't think his tenure as GM really helped the team. Instead you can make the argument he left them worse off than the previous regime I don't think you can. 1
Rockee96 Posted March 23, 2018 Posted March 23, 2018 Is this even a question? He was a horrible GM! 2 1
JohnC Posted March 23, 2018 Posted March 23, 2018 A checker player playing in an elite chess tournament. He represented the old school of thought when everyone else was practicing the new school of thought. 1 1
Maynard Posted March 23, 2018 Posted March 23, 2018 Why? Are you that bored? Guess I am because I’m responding.....yay
BuffaloRush Posted March 23, 2018 Author Posted March 23, 2018 (edited) 17 minutes ago, jmc12290 said: Buddy Nix drafted many blue chip talents, acquired some blue chip talents in FA, but never found a QB. His era is largely over from top to bottom on this roster, but the best players from 2010 - 2017 were almost all his doing. I don't think you can. Take a look at his winning percentage 16-32. He never finished a season with more than 6 wins, while both Marv Levy and Russ Brandon who are lauded as "bad" GM's never won less than 6. Also who are the "many" blue chip talents? I think I listed the three players he drafted outside of that he didn't have as many "hits." And who were his FA hits? Mario Williams was good in Buffalo but he never was a difference maker and his contract left the team in Salary Cap Hell. 9 minutes ago, Maynard said: Why? Are you that bored? Guess I am because I’m responding.....yay Ugh terrible post Edited March 23, 2018 by BuffaloRush
frostbitmic Posted March 23, 2018 Posted March 23, 2018 No .... Because I can't make a case for why he was a good GM. 1
BringBackOrton Posted March 23, 2018 Posted March 23, 2018 1 minute ago, BuffaloRush said: Take a look at his winning percentage 16-32. He never finished a season with more than 6 wins, while both Marv Levy and Russ Brandon who are lauded as "bad" GM's never won less than 6. Also who are the "many" blue chip talents? I think I listed the three players he drafted outside of that he didn't have as many "hits." And who were his FA hits? Mario Williams was good in Buffalo but he never was a difference maker and his contract left the team in Salary Cap Hell. Your take on Buddy is unfound. Ugh terrible post No, wrong. The Bills pre-2010 had almost zero talent, thanks to mismanagment. Dick Jauron got them to 7-9, but those teams sucked. Gilmore, Dareus, Cordy, Bradham, Searcy, Aaron Williams etc etc. 1
BuffaloRush Posted March 23, 2018 Author Posted March 23, 2018 23 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said: I really don't think of Good ol Buddy Nix too much but he definitely started the rejuvenation of the Bills bedsides some questionable decisions he brought in NFL talent The rejuvination!?!?!? It took the team 7 years, 3 GMs, 4 HCs, and 1 new owner until they made the playoffs! That’s one long rejuvination. 1 1
Scorp83 Posted March 23, 2018 Posted March 23, 2018 No! He wasn't as bad as Russ Brandon acting like a GM... but you don't take Spiller when you already have BeastMode & FredEx on the roster. Then... drafting EJ... & leaving it on Whaley was just plain wrong! 1
BuffaloRush Posted March 23, 2018 Author Posted March 23, 2018 2 minutes ago, jmc12290 said: No, wrong. The Bills pre-2010 had almost zero talent, thanks to mismanagment. Dick Jauron got them to 7-9, but those teams sucked. Gilmore, Dareus, Cordy, Bradham, Searcy, Aaron Williams etc etc. You may say that they “sucked,” but the records don’t lie. Those teams consistently had more wins than any team that Buddy put on the field in his 3 years as GM. Aaron Williams and Nigel bradham were good pics and nice NFL players. I would not call them “blue chippers.” Beside Most Bills GMs hit on players like this. Calling DaNorris Searcy a blue chipper is beyond laughable. He was a competent starter at best. Probably not the player that you want to use to support your argument 3 minutes ago, Scorp83 said: No! He wasn't as bad as Russ Brandon acting like a GM... but you don't take Spiller when you already have BeastMode & FredEx on the roster. Then... drafting EJ... & leaving it on Whaley was just plain wrong! You say Buddy wasn’t as bad as Russ but the bottom line is that Russ’s teams had a super winning percentage. Also don’t be fooled that Whaley wasn’t “all in” on EJ. He wouldn’t have made the ridiculous trade for Sammy in 2014 if he didn’t believe in him.
BringBackOrton Posted March 23, 2018 Posted March 23, 2018 1 minute ago, BuffaloRush said: You may say that they “sucked,” but the records don’t lie. Those teams consistently had more wins than any team that Buddy put on the field in his 3 years as GM. Aaron Williams and Nigel bradham were good pics and nice NFL players. I would not call them “blue chippers.” Beside Most Bills GMs hit on players like this. Calling DaNorris Searcy a blue chipper is beyond laughable. He was a competent starter at best. Probably not the player that you want to use to support your argument I guess they aren't blue chippers, but Dareus, Gilmore and Cordy ceratainly were. The rest were just good picks and players. Mario was a blue chipper too. I think you can EASILY make the argument that Mario Williams was the best FA signing in the last 10 years. Maybe 20.
Buffalo716 Posted March 23, 2018 Posted March 23, 2018 (edited) 9 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said: The rejuvination!?!?!? It took the team 7 years, 3 GMs, 4 HCs, and 1 new owner until they made the playoffs! That’s one long rejuvination. If you look at the rosters pre Nix and When he retired i think you will see that he added a lot of talent to the roster we had GMs like Marv Levy who sucked and Russ Brandon. We didn't field an NFL line backing core He added a lot of talent to make our defense very Good Edited March 23, 2018 by Buffalo716
BuffaloRush Posted March 23, 2018 Author Posted March 23, 2018 Just now, jmc12290 said: I guess they aren't blue chippers, but Dareus, Gilmore and Cordy ceratainly were. The rest were just good picks and players. Mario was a blue chipper too. I think you can EASILY make the argument that Mario Williams was the best FA signing in the last 10 years. Maybe 20. Are we talking the best signing on paper or on the field? because I can tell you that John Butler signing Bryce Paup and Ted washington in 1995 were far better signings and their performance translated in improvement on the defense. Now I will say, Mario was perhaps the highest profile FA to sign with the team. He had a few good years but I really don’t remember him making an impact in games like a Khalil Mack or JJ Watt do. Also that contract really did hurt the Bills under the cap. Just now, Buffalo716 said: If you look at the rosters pre Nix and When he retired i think you will see that he added a lot of talent to the roster we had GMs like Marv Levy who sucked and Russ Brandon He added a lot of talent to make our defense very Good Again...you say that they suck but how can you quantify that statement when Buddy’s teams always had less wins that any team Brandon was a part of?
BringBackOrton Posted March 23, 2018 Posted March 23, 2018 (edited) 1 minute ago, BuffaloRush said: Are we talking the best signing on paper or on the field? because I can tell you that John Butler signing Bryce Paup and Ted washington in 1995 were far better signings and their performance translated in improvement on the defense. Now I will say, Mario was perhaps the highest profile FA to sign with the team. He had a few good years but I really don’t remember him making an impact in games like a Khalil Mack or JJ Watt do. Also that contract really did hurt the Bills under the cap. Again...you say that they suck but how can you quantify that statement when Buddy’s teams always had less wins that any team Brandon was a part of? That was 23 years ago. Best FA signing in the last 20 years. Mario. Nix. Edited March 23, 2018 by jmc12290
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