Interview with Buddy Nix from Owners Meetings

[eball]

My confidence level in Buddy Nix is at an all time low. The Fitz contract was a disaster and set the franchise back years. I do not want him deciding who the next QB is.

 

1. Fitz' contract was not a "disaster" -- it was middle-of-the-pack starter money; it's too bad things didn't work out, but it hasn't hamstrung the Bills.

2. Buddy is not operating in a vacuum.

 

Step away from the ledge...

[chris heff]

My confidence level in Buddy Nix is at an all time low. The Fitz contract was a disaster and set the franchise back years. I do not want him deciding who the next QB is.

I don't have a great deal of confidence in Buddy, but I don't think Fitz's contract was a disaster. The disaster was that there was no plan B. How do you go three years with out drafting a QB with a high to mid round pick.

[Wayne Cubed]

People keep talking about the Wind etc....We hardly get one game like that in Buffalo. Even last season we had 4 games in December and nothing was out of the extraordinary. I would gladly take an accurate QB who can get the ball in the hands of the WR anytime. Arm strength can always be improved in the NFL. I don't know if Barkley is a Clausen 2.0.

 

Add to that, in those truly windy or snowy conditions, what do teams generally do? They hand the ball off and grind it out in the running game. I never understood the weather excuse...

[TheLynchTrain]

Do you have a link for that?

 

The whole interview is in a story linked on the Toronto Sun as well as TBD

 

http://www.torontosu...past-and-future

 

It's towards the end where this exchange takes place:

 

 

ARE THERE FIRST-ROUND WORTHY QUARTERBACKS IN THIS DRAFT?

"I've said from Day 1 there'll be two quarterbacks in this draft that will be long-time starters in this league. And that's a fact. The key is figuring out which two it is, and that's what we're in the process of doing."

 

It's also interesting that he stated earlier: "I really don't want to comment about these (draft-class) quarterbacks, because I haven't seen them all, and I am going to see them all."

 

So he doesn't want to comment on Qbs yet, but he believes (I'm sorry, its a FACT) two will be long term starters? I'm not sure yet if he's playing poker or if this is just downright stupid.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

So Buddy tells the Toronto Sun....."I've said from Day 1 there'll be two quarterbacks in this draft that will be long-time starters in this league"......really? Granted, I don't read everything, but I don't recall him saying this before. Sounds like an analytical nugget of wisdom. As in statistical analysis, which I'm all for. I get the impression that Buddy has had his muzzle pulled a little bit tighter this year as have the rest of the real power brokers of the Bills. I believe that's a good thing. Who is behind that? Doesn't matter I guess. All I read is generalities, not specifics. In the past the powers that be were much more open about thier intentions, specific players and plans. I like the cloak and dagger approach much better. Gives me hope the grand plan is a good one. I'm a glass half full kinda guy though.

 

Go Bills!

 

I took his comment the other way. Rather than analytics, sounds like was just saying that based on the past usually 2 guys pan out and we have to get one of the two. in other words, he wasn't really identifying anyone specifically.

[BuffBill]

John Kryk who covers the NFL for The Toronto Sun had a chance to interview Buddy Nix at the owners meetings in Arizona today. Spoke with him about plans for a QB.

 

Highlights:

 

They will be attending quite a few pro days and will bring in at least 5 to 7 prospects for private workouts in Buffalo. Not surprisingly Smith(this Friday) and Barkley (TBA) lead the list.

 

Spoke a little about Fitz saw him in Arizona, called him one of his favorites and a great person.

 

Asked about Vince Young " No would do not do much of that re-treading"

 

Would not rule trading for a QB and when asked about Matt Flynn specifically of course he refused to name anyone.

 

Nothing earth shattering just thought I would share.

 

http://blogs.canoe.ca/krykslants/

Not bad, took him 4 years to realize an NFL team needs a quarterback? Genius I tell you.

[thebandit27]

Not bad, took him 4 years to realize an NFL team needs a quarterback? Genius I tell you.

 

Except that you're ignoring the very thing that Buddy said from the day he was named GM. He said he'd always draft a QB if he felt that there were an 8-10 year guy...clearly, the guys he had a chance to draft didn't meet the criteria for him. Was he wrong about certain guys (Dalton, Kaepernick, Wilson)? You bet, but that doesn't mean he didn't know that an NFL team needs a QB.

[yungmack]

It wasn't the contract that set the team back, it was the coach's unwavering faith in the player. The contract was fair market value for an average to below-average QB, right on par with the $$ given to Kevin Kolb and Matt Cassel. It made Fitz the 18th-highest paid QB in the game, and that's about where he fell in nearly every measurable category.

 

Bad deal for the team? Sure, but nowhere near crippling from a financial perspective.

Please stop making sense. This is the Stadium Wall, where dick jokes about player's names is considered the height of sophisticated wit.

[Mr. WEO]

Except that you're ignoring the very thing that Buddy said from the day he was named GM. He said he'd always draft a QB if he felt that there were an 8-10 year guy...clearly, the guys he had a chance to draft didn't meet the criteria for him. Was he wrong about certain guys (Dalton, Kaepernick, Wilson)? You bet, but that doesn't mean he didn't know that an NFL team needs a QB.

 

So he knew we needed a QB, but he just couldn't recognize a draftable one (except Levi Brown).

 

 

How is that better?

[JPS]

i think i was just saying i dont Barkley at 8.

Would you take Barkley in the 2nd round??

[MarkyMannn]

I get the impression that Buddy has had his muzzle pulled a little bit tighter this year

 

Yeah until someone says " Hey Bud, phone call for you"

[JPS]

1. Fitz' contract was not a "disaster" -- it was middle-of-the-pack starter money; it's too bad things didn't work out, but it hasn't hamstrung the Bills.

2. Buddy is not operating in a vacuum.

 

Step away from the ledge...

I'm not on the ledge about it, but #14's contract kinda did hamstring the Bills a bit. I'm sure Buddy wishes he could take it back.

[rickenbru]

So he doesn't want to comment on Qbs yet, but he believes (I'm sorry, its a FACT) two will be long term starters? I'm not sure yet if he's playing poker or if this is just downright stupid.

My thoughts exactly. He knows there'll be 2 QBs in the draft that will be long-time starters in the NFL... he just has to figure out which 2? Huh? I would like him a lot more if he sounded life Foghorn Leghorn. Whatever he is - playing poker or otherwise - it's useless listening to him.

[BuffBill]

Except that you're ignoring the very thing that Buddy said from the day he was named GM. He said he'd always draft a QB if he felt that there were an 8-10 year guy...clearly, the guys he had a chance to draft didn't meet the criteria for him. Was he wrong about certain guys (Dalton, Kaepernick, Wilson)? You bet, but that doesn't mean he didn't know that an NFL team needs a QB.

I apologize, I thought most would get my frustrated sarcasm. How about if I say, he knew a team needed a QB, just didn't think it was important enough to act on that idea-better? Oh wait, he did act, he drafted Levi Brown, brought in Vince Young, Tyler Thigpen, stole Brian Brohm from the Packers practice squad and gave a moronic contract to a guy who is a super nice guy, but barely has the physical tools for a backup QB, after a couple decent games.

[bonechiller]

It sure is. An elevator scene, that is.

 

uuhh.....Yup.

[NoSaint]

Sounds like he has a gut feeling. Or 2.

 

PS: Assuming the Bills draft a QB, he'll be a starter by default and that's whether he's any good or not. Buddy's gut is probably telling him the same.

 

basic math tells you an average year produces two long term starters and a handful of journeymen. if longterm adds up to about 8-10 years that puts 15-20 established starters in the league at varying points in their career any given year.

[NickelCity]

I took his comment the other way. Rather than analytics, sounds like was just saying that based on the past usually 2 guys pan out and we have to get one of the two. in other words, he wasn't really identifying anyone specifically.

 

Yep, this is how I read it as well.

[Luxy312]

His comments are interesting. Regardless, if you looked at the number of successful NFL quarterbacks drafted after the first round, you won't find many. In the last 20 years, there have been 30 drafted in the 2nd round. Of those, Dalton and Kaepernik are examples of success, with the "TBD" that we haven't seen a ton of their respective careers yet. Lots of mediocre QB's like our current Tarvaris Jackson. Drew Brees is the only other guy still playing that is successful. After that, you 'd have to reach pretty far back for Brett Favre, Randall Cunningham, or even Boomer Esiason. Regardless of all that, I think there's a lot of guys that are kind of "the same" in this draft after Geno Smith. Barkley, Nassib, Henderson, Wilson. They really don't stand out from each other and would seem to be 2nd round value.

[thebandit27]

So he knew we needed a QB, but he just couldn't recognize a draftable one (except Levi Brown).

 

 

How is that better?

 

As usual, WEO, please point out where I said that what Nix did was better?

 

I simply pointed out that BuffBill's statement was not correct. In fact, I went so far as to criticize Nix for missing on certain guys; a fact I'm sure you glossed over in your rush to exhibit your typical level of snarkiness.

 

I apologize, I thought most would get my frustrated sarcasm. How about if I say, he knew a team needed a QB, just didn't think it was important enough to act on that idea-better? Oh wait, he did act, he drafted Levi Brown, brought in Vince Young, Tyler Thigpen, stole Brian Brohm from the Packers practice squad and gave a moronic contract to a guy who is a super nice guy, but barely has the physical tools for a backup QB, after a couple decent games.

 

As I said, go ahead and criticize Nix for passing on the franchise guys he could've drafted in Dalton, Kaepernick, and Wilson...clearly he misjudged them as not being that "8-10 year guy" he was in search of...and as has been mentioned, the contract was very middle-of-the-road for a starting QB, which is what Fitz was at the time of the extension.

[ganesh]

Except that you're ignoring the very thing that Buddy said from the day he was named GM. He said he'd always draft a QB if he felt that there were an 8-10 year guy...clearly, the guys he had a chance to draft didn't meet the criteria for him. Was he wrong about certain guys (Dalton, Kaepernick, Wilson)? You bet, but that doesn't mean he didn't know that an NFL team needs a QB.

You don't really know if a QB will go on to have a 8-10 year career. There are too many things surrounding him that can change. Again, as many have chimed on this board, the fault with Nix is that he did not even attempt to draft one and give it a shot. He was more worried about protecting his investment in Fitz.