Dawgg

Doug Whaley has presided over 3 poor drafts. I too was excited upon his arrival but the proof is in the pudding -- college scouting has been relatively poor under his watch and I take little solace knowing that he's going to take over "at some point." At the end of the day, Russ said it best: "Buddy is still the GM. I think his talent evaluation is second to none. His power has not been reduced." It's time for a fresh voice to take over the personnel department. Russ Brandon unfortunately disagrees, but the record (and the body of work that is this roster) speak for themselves.

Still, much of the scouting staff is the same. Honestly, my friend, we're splitting hairs here. The Bills need a new GM. A young, up and coming GM from a successful organization that has knack for evaluating talent and building a competitive roster. Tom Gamble from the 49ers or Caldwell from the Falcons would be solid choices to replace Nix. This is what the Bills need badly. The last time they hired a fresh outside face it was Tom Donahoe. Since then, the organization has focused on bringing retreads and old hats to lead the charge and we've see what the results are. At least Donahoe built a top 5 defense. Since those days, the Bills have been unremarkable in all 3 phases. Do you disagree? Do you think retaining Nix is an advisable course of action as opposed to bringing fresh, new leadership in this area?

I'm enjoying the discussion on this fine New Years Day. HNY btw

You've been parrotting the same, tired point throughout this thread. With all due respect to your venerable status as the creator and fearless leader of this community, your point (summarized as follows) rings hollow: Russ held a press conference. Russ got emotional. Therefore, something big must have changed within the organization. If something major hadn't changed within the organization, Russ would not have held a press conference. So there! Please. The press conference was held because it simply had to be. Preseason expectations were high. The playoff drought has reached record highs (or lows). The team has been a non-factor in the division. Fan frustration was at its peak. A simple coaching change was not enough. The media was waiting at OBD for more. If some sort of organizational wasn't announced, the perception and downstream PR consequences would have been dire. So in comes Russ Brandon, announcing yet another promotion for himself, while keeping the same inept scouting department and player personnel department in place.

+1.

Many of the scouts have been in place far longer than 3 years. Not to mention Overdorf and his staff, responsible for executing trades and placing a value on players. Yes, that's right: our GM doesn't do trades, he delegates that to the capologist. This doesn't happen in normally running, non-dysfunctional franchises. Hiring David Caldwell to replace Buddy Nix would have been a phenomenal way to begin the Russ Brandon era.

Nobody doubts Gailey was a problem. But to suggest that the personnel department, consisting of the same scouting staff and same front office managers who have presided over the longest playoff drought in NFL history is not in need of any change is disingenuous at best. Did Ralph Wilson force Buddy Nix to choose Torrell Troup over Buffalo-born Rob Gronkowski? Did Ralph Wilson force the team to pass on all developmental QB prospects and instead place all the franchise's eggs into the Ryan Fitzpatrick basket? Did Ralph Wilson force Buddy Nix to trade up and Take TJ Graham rather than Russell Wilson? Did Ralph Wilson tell Buddy Nix to claim Shawne Merriman and sign him to an extension all the while ignoring the LB position in the draft? It seems like a convenient excuse for a shoddy operation. It is my sincere hope that Russ Brandon will come to this realization sooner rather than later.

^ Another objective fan who gets it.

NO!!! NO. The roster is not significantly better, despite what Buddy Nix claims. Even if the roster were "slightly" better than it was in 2009, does that justify Buddy Nix's 3-year tenure? It sure doesn't. ^ Correct. This is exactly what this franchise needs, but continually resists.

This assertion is flat-out incorrect. The roster is NOT much better than it was 3 years ago. - As you pointed out, he failed to draft a developmental QB. - The pass rush has not improved significantly in spite of the vast sums of money spent in that area. - The Bills' defense completed one of the worst defensive seasons in franchise history despite a bevy of draft picks dedicated to the unit. - The linebacking corps is abysmal, in large part due to a dependence on past-his-prime Shawne Merriman and Nick Barnett. Sheppard has not developed into a starting caliber MLB. - The cornerbacks have regressed. Gillmore was a good selection with great potential but Aaron Williams was ranked as the one of the worst corners in the league. - Failed to find a solid outside receiver to compliment Stevie Johnson and instead collected a bevy of slot receivers like TJ Graham and David Nelson - Failed to bring in an athletic, pass-catching tight end and Chandler hardly qualifies. Had Rob Gronkowski staring him in the face during the draft and chose to pick Torrell Troup instead. Troup has been an outright bust.

^Another objective fan who gets it.

With all due respect, Scott, you're wrong. The personnel department remains the same and will continue to remain the same, as stated by Russ Brandon.

Totally. You are one of the few posters on this board that is capable of seeing through the rhetoric spewed at One Bills Drive. The groupthink on this board is nothing short of comical. That said, it's hard to blame die-hard fans from having hope, especially when they are spending thousands of dollars of their hard-earned money on season tickets. Nevertheless, fans deserve better than what they are getting and it is my sincere hope that Ralph Wilson's estate sells the team to an entirely new ownership group committed to winning upon his inevitable (and unfortunate) death.

^ at least one poster gets it. Succinctly put and well-said.

He did have a suggestion -- he felt that the front office needed to be revamped! The talking heads asked him about who is dream coach would be and he sounded like a moron, sure. But this is the problem with Bills fans and talking heads in general. You can swap in any head coach you want. But if this terrible personnel department continues to be in charge, building a winning franchise is difficult. Look at the Flacons, they began their ascent when they brought in Thomas Dimitroff to run the football operation. The Bills need that type of hire in the worst way. Instead, they kept the same cronies in the front office. It's truly unfortunate.

I quote from Russ Brandon: "Buddy Nix's talent evaluation skills are unmatched." "Buddy Nix is still our GM. There is no reduction in his power within the organization." "The football analytics department will fall under Jim Overdorf's organization and will have more to do with the non-sexy parts of football administration." "Most of the front office personnel here have been here for longer than I have because they do a great job." Maintaining Buddy Nix as the lead personnel guy is a dubious decision no matter how Russ spins it.

I don't care how he sounded. Sure, his suggestion of Billick was idiotic. But the main point he made -- that the decision to retain Buddy Nix after 3 years of poor drafting and questionable roster-management decisions -- is a bad one.

The point the caller was making was that it's ridiculous for Russ Brandon to stand up there after longest playoff drought in NFL history and claim that the personnel department is perfect, as-is.

Whatever. It's not his job to find the coach. He's 100% right.

PTR is a cheerleader for whatever the Bills spin up. It matters not. Don't take it personally, he'd be the first to cheer, even if Matt Millen took over the Bills' football operation.

After listening to the press conference, I continue to remain dubious of this "groundbreaking news." For the President & CEO of a franchise with the longest playoff drought in NFL history to stand up and state that Buddy Nix's capabilities pertaining to talent evaluation, is "unmatched" it is not only disingenuous, it's a joke. Buddy's talent evaluation capabilities have been abominable, both in terms of coach selection and collegiate drafting. Russ Brandon is a great marketer - no doubt about it. But this team desperately needs a fresh approach in talent evaluation like Thomas Dimitroff of the Falcons. It's clear that this is not what the Bills are getting and it's quite unfortunate. While I truly hope I am wrong, I do believe that this new regime will be "more of the same."

Scaled back from 7-10 rookies better to rather underwhelming given his draft status. Do you think be played like a stud cornerback? More importantly, do you buy the spin surrounding this "change"?

s First off my apologies for that comment. Second, I like Gillmore but the point is that these drafts by this front office -- which includes Whaley -- have been abysmal aside from the few solid players you mention. 7-10 rookies better than Gilmore was a clear exaggeration on my part - that said, he gets beat an awful lot for a guy who drew comparisons to Darrelle Revis before the season began. Pergaps that is due to coaching and scheme. Nevertheless, I thnk the failure of this organization to bring a fresh outside perspective at this juncture is indicative of the ineptitude that continues to pervade it. I hope I am wrong

You clearly aren't very bright -- which great for the Bills' ticket office and merchandise sales Gilmore wasn't very good this year, despite what you say. And make all the rookie excuses you want, there were at least 7-10 rookie CB's that played better than him this season. Dareus has underachieved relative to his draft status. Solid starter, hardly dominant. And most of this front office's picks have been dubious.