Doug Whaley puts full onus of EJ Manuel pick on Buddy Nix; believes he should have been a 3rd/4th round pick

[Rico]

1 hour ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Meh.........Whaley had Beane-like support on TSW for most of his tenure.   

Most of his tenure? Even though it was crystal clear that he was a dead man walking in the months before the 2017 draft, you still had quite a few posters in here who were genuinely shocked the day he was canned. 

 

7 years of failure, he just needed more time.

[Nihilarian]

On 6/4/2021 at 3:40 PM, K-9 said:

Doug Whaley is full of crap. That wasn’t Buddy Nix making all those trips down to Tallahassee to interview everyone and their mother about EJ’s character, work ethic, personality, etc., in the months leading up to that draft. That wasn’t Buddy Nix gushing about EJ’s “it” factor and the “presence people feel when he walks into a room.” 
 

Does Doug have anything to say about the hindsight mistake it was to make that deal for Watkins in 2014? Pretty sure that  wasn’t Buddy, either. 

At the time Whaley stated he personally went down to scout EJ.

 

Nix a retired scout hired to be GM. Whaley had little clue. Russ Brandon...

 

 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

Too bad Whaley can't change his screen name...😁

[filthymcnasty08]

Nix:  2012  Had Russ Wilson in the 3rd Rd staring him in the face.   No thanks.  Everyone who evaluated Wilson thought he was special.  Typical no balls GM - needs their QB's to come out of a mold.  

 

        2013 EJ Manuel at 16 in round 1 -   Oh yes!  Give me that!  Let's pay 2 rounds up to get him.

 

Whaley:  takes an extra 1st rounder, while ownership in limbo, to trade-up and get Watkins in an insanely rich draft for WR.  Khalil Mack sitting right there.  UB product, generational talent.  0-doubter.  

 

Both picks I was absolutely furious.  There is nothing more to say about either of these clowns and any "legacy" I associate them with is a perpetuation of  our old losing culture.

 

[PrimeTime101]

13 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Meh.........Whaley had Beane-like support on TSW for most of his tenure.   

So now your just going to make excuses for the guy?

[BADOLBILZ]

46 minutes ago, PrimeTime101 said:

So now your just going to make excuses for the guy?

 

 

He wasn't cut out to be a GM.    But neither was Buddy Nix.    Nix was a road scout without the executive chops to do the job but Ralph knew him and he would take the job.   I don't think it's surprising that Nix hired another road scout to be his successor.    

 

Beane is not a scout.    He was head coffee-fetcher for many years under Gettlenutz before they let him dip his toes into the personnel end in 2015-2016.    But being in the Smithers role as DoFO he learned how to run the entire organization.    It was important for the Bills to not have the GM duties essentially split between Whaley and Russ Brandon.......that dynamic was causing a lot of dysfunction.    The HC and the President were both stepping on the GM's toes and Whaley let them and now he thinks he can point the finger.   Doesn't work that way. 

 

But Beane's pro personnel moves were awful in his first 18 months.  Once he got the personnel men around him he needed the results have been a lot better.    But the reason he is viewed as a success with personnel is because of A) Josh Allen and B) Sean McDermott.    Whaley's tenure was chaotic but the personnel work they did wasn't the issue.    They had plenty of talent.    What they didn't have was the QB and the structure that McDermott has built to bring out results from the talent that they have.    

 

 

Edited June 6, 2021 by BADOLBILZ

[Mat68]

Add this to the pile with he wanted Mahomes.  Revisionist history.  Sounds like he is trying to put his name back in good favor in NFL circles.  He is who he is.  Everyones fault but his own.  Been this way from Marrone, to Rex, Ej, Mahomes

[SirAndrew]

4 hours ago, filthymcnasty08 said:

Nix:  2012  Had Russ Wilson in the 3rd Rd staring him in the face.   No thanks.  Everyone who evaluated Wilson thought he was special.  Typical no balls GM - needs their QB's to come out of a mold.  

 

        2013 EJ Manuel at 16 in round 1 -   Oh yes!  Give me that!  Let's pay 2 rounds up to get him.

 

Whaley:  takes an extra 1st rounder, while ownership in limbo, to trade-up and get Watkins in an insanely rich draft for WR.  Khalil Mack sitting right there.  UB product, generational talent.  0-doubter.  

 

Both picks I was absolutely furious.  There is nothing more to say about either of these clowns and any "legacy" I associate them with is a perpetuation of  our old losing culture.

 

The Russell Wilson miss from Nix is incredible. How was a franchise with no QB not willing to risk a third round pick on a QB ? Disregard the concerns regarding Wilson’s statue, a third round pick isn’t much to waste when you have a need at QB. I suppose Russell Wilson is probably very blessed he didn’t go to Buffalo in 2012. Who knows where his career would be had he begun with such a dysfunctional franchise. 

Edited June 6, 2021 by SirAndrew

[Rock'em Sock'em]

On 6/4/2021 at 3:13 PM, YoloinOhio said:

But don’t back yourself in a corner or of overdraft because of need

What did he have to say about Watkins?  Or about Sean Merriman when Whaley was Director of Pro Personnel?  What a clown.

[PrimeTime101]

6 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

He wasn't cut out to be a GM.    But neither was Buddy Nix.    Nix was a road scout without the executive chops to do the job but Ralph knew him and he would take the job.   I don't think it's surprising that Nix hired another road scout to be his successor.    

 

Beane is not a scout.    He was head coffee-fetcher for many years under Gettlenutz before they let him dip his toes into the personnel end in 2015-2016.    But being in the Smithers role as DoFO he learned how to run the entire organization.    It was important for the Bills to not have the GM duties essentially split between Whaley and Russ Brandon.......that dynamic was causing a lot of dysfunction.    The HC and the President were both stepping on the GM's toes and Whaley let them and now he thinks he can point the finger.   Doesn't work that way. 

 

But Beane's pro personnel moves were awful in his first 18 months.  Once he got the personnel men around him he needed the results have been a lot better.    But the reason he is viewed as a success with personnel is because of A) Josh Allen and B) Sean McDermott.    Whaley's tenure was chaotic but the personnel work they did wasn't the issue.    They had plenty of talent.    What they didn't have was the QB and the structure that McDermott has built to bring out results from the talent that they have.    

 

so which Pro moves did Beane make in the first 18 months that were horrible?

[dave mcbride]

On 6/5/2021 at 8:27 AM, wppete said:

I’d say the EJ Manuel was perhaps the worse draft pick the Bills have ever made in the first round. I was initially hopeful but EJ proved to be awful on the field, seemed like a great guy off the field though. 

The bills alt least got an extra second rounder in that draft by dropping back to take manuel at 16. They traded away next year’s first to move from the second back into the first to get losman.

[Aussie Joe]

9 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

Beane is not a scout.    He was head coffee-fetcher for many years under Gettlenutz before they let him dip his toes into the personnel end in 2015-2016.    But being in the Smithers role as DoFO he learned how to run the entire organization.  

 

 

He started at the bottom at 24 when he joined the Panthers.. not surprisingly he didnt come in straight away as an executive...

 

 

[Rico]

I don’t blame Whaley for the EJ pick, I put that on Nix. Nix also gets credit for the Robert Woods pick and the Jerry Hughes trade. I do blame Whaley for keeping EJ on the team for 4 years though instead of cutting losses and moving on.

[BADOLBILZ]

3 hours ago, PrimeTime101 said:

so which Pro moves did Beane make in the first 18 months that were horrible?

 

 

The Kelvin Benjamin trade and then keeping him for $8M hit in 2018,  the pre-mature Eric Wood extension that cost them $10M in cap room,  giving McCoy $2M bonus for no reason,  the entire 2018 free agent class(Star, Vontae, Kroft, Murphy etc..).    Can't forget $3.5M and a draft pick try out Corey Coleman for a week.    They burned so much cap room that first 18 months that they are still paying for it today.     A lot was made about Beane creating the greatest amount of dead money in NFL history and how it wasn't his fault..........but the moves at the beginning of his tenure burned even more money than that.    On junk players.

 

Whether he even got good mileage out of the Watkins and Darby trades is even debatable.   Watkins pick was used to trade UP a few spots to get Edmunds.   The Darby pick has netted Harrison Phillips.......who hasn't really panned out yet.     And the Dareus trade caused the run defense to fall off a cliff and helped flip the Jags from worst run defense to near the top and they beat the Bills in the playoffs and reached the AFCCG.     The panic from the defensive collapse soon after the Dareus trade is why they still owe Star Lotulelei $10M+.

 

As I said........Beane has gotten better.   I think he's still had some glaringly sloppy errors with the finances that have kept them out of making major improvements this offseason.    Keeping Murphy last season cost them a bunch of cap room this season.   The Star "pay cut" and keep has blown up in their face.   Keeping Addison AND Butler this time around both seemed incredibly generous of him.   

 

 

[PrimeTime101]

42 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

The Kelvin Benjamin trade and then keeping him for $8M hit in 2018,  the pre-mature Eric Wood extension that cost them $10M in cap room,  giving McCoy $2M bonus for no reason,  the entire 2018 free agent class(Star, Vontae, Kroft, Murphy etc..).    Can't forget $3.5M and a draft pick try out Corey Coleman for a week.    They burned so much cap room that first 18 months that they are still paying for it today.     A lot was made about Beane creating the greatest amount of dead money in NFL history and how it wasn't his fault..........but the moves at the beginning of his tenure burned even more money than that.    On junk players.

 

Whether he even got good mileage out of the Watkins and Darby trades is even debatable.   Watkins pick was used to trade UP a few spots to get Edmunds.   The Darby pick has netted Harrison Phillips.......who hasn't really panned out yet.     And the Dareus trade caused the run defense to fall off a cliff and helped flip the Jags from worst run defense to near the top and they beat the Bills in the playoffs and reached the AFCCG.     The panic from the defensive collapse soon after the Dareus trade is why they still owe Star Lotulelei $10M+.

 

As I said........Beane has gotten better.   I think he's still had some glaringly sloppy errors with the finances that have kept them out of making major improvements this offseason.    Keeping Murphy last season cost them a bunch of cap room this season.   The Star "pay cut" and keep has blown up in their face.   Keeping Addison AND Butler this time around both seemed incredibly generous of him.   

 

Benjamin. Most expected him to be way better then he was. It was considered a good move when we got him.

Eric Wood I agree

McCoy 2 mil for no reason? GM's have good reasons to give him the bonus.. no one just gives up money for "no reason"

Star is still on this team and was missed last year.

Kroft served his purpose. He was second best TE on the team.

Murphy was a waste but that's crystal ball work

We are currently still burning 4 mil from 2018.. from players not on the roster from that year. thats a little high but not killer.

 

AND

 

Darius?  The same Darius when there is 20+ minutes of him taking off plays? not giving 100%?  That Darius? The same Darius that played 30 games in 3 years? That Darius?

 

I think you need to cut Beane a Break and take a bigger look at the players he has brought here through blockbuster trades... All the 1 year prove it contracts....  Is Beane perfect? hell no... Did he make some mistakes? HELL YES every GM makes mistakes.

 

 

1 minute ago, ScottLaw said:

These were the two moves I didn’t  understand that I thought were easy decisions... would’ve loved to see them drop both(or at the very least Addison, who’s done, IMO) of these guys and use their money for a stud CB or offensive playmaker in FA.... and considering they used their first two picks on defensive lineman, I still don’t get it. 

I agree but things are done for reasons, you and I will never understand

[PrimeTime101]

Just now, ScottLaw said:

Of course they have their reasons.... I don’t see the justification for keeping them, but it’s my opinion and it obviously has no bearing on the team. 

again I agree.  I just think some look at the head shakers and ignore the good stuff. and that's not right.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

On 6/4/2021 at 10:38 PM, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

That's basically my take on Whaley.  Hell of a scout, should not be allowed near a microphone, ever.

 

I'm just gonna sit here and look at this statement for a while.

 

Nix.  Was hailed as an actual competent football man when the job was given him.  Did a bunch of things that were highly approved by fans at the time, such as firing Tom Modrak and revamping the scouting organization.

 

One of the worst GM's you've ever seen.

 

Son, I think you may be suffering from selective memory here.

 

Lucky you!

The 2010 offseason that Nix orchestrated was a complete failure and an embarrassment. 

 

Extended Chris Kelsey as the model of a Bills player.

 

Kept both of Jauron’s failed QBs, ultimately leading to Trent Edwards starting again in 2010 (and running out of bounds on 4th down in Green Bay).

 

Led the switch to a 3-4 defense and drafted failures like Troup, Carrington, Batten, Moats. In addition to complete busts Marcus Easley, Ed Wang. 
 

Drafted CJ Spiller with the 9th overall pick, and then we saw the coaching staff that wanted their “water bug” get a total of 74 total carries all season.

 

Traded Marshawn Lynch for a 3rd and 5th Round pick and watched that blow up in our faces immediately.

 

Reached back to Chan Gailey, who was out of football when the Bills came calling, and he hired George Edward’s who took the team promptly to the Bottom 5 in defense with Ryan Denney playing OLB. 

 

Famously said he’d be sleeping when Free Agency opened at 12 am. 

 

 

[Nihilarian]

5 hours ago, PrimeTime101 said:

Benjamin. Most expected him to be way better then he was. It was considered a good move when we got him.

Eric Wood I agree

McCoy 2 mil for no reason? GM's have good reasons to give him the bonus.. no one just gives up money for "no reason"

Star is still on this team and was missed last year.

Kroft served his purpose. He was second best TE on the team.

Murphy was a waste but that's crystal ball work

We are currently still burning 4 mil from 2018.. from players not on the roster from that year. thats a little high but not killer.

 

AND

 

Darius?  The same Darius when there is 20+ minutes of him taking off plays? not giving 100%?  That Darius? The same Darius that played 30 games in 3 years? That Darius?

 

I think you need to cut Beane a Break and take a bigger look at the players he has brought here through blockbuster trades... All the 1 year prove it contracts....  Is Beane perfect? hell no... Did he make some mistakes? HELL YES every GM makes mistakes.

 

 

I agree but things are done for reasons, you and I will never understand

I agree with most of this. 

 

Brandon Beane was a rookie GM when he came to Buffalo. A rookie learning as he goes and together with McD built the team we see today...a super bowl contender! 

 

The Bills were in cap hell from the Whaley / Nix era to start. Rex Ryan took the best defensive line in the league and neutered it with his moronic scheme. The defense needed rebuilding. The offense needed rebuilding. The O line. The receiving corps. The Buffalo Bills were desperate for a franchise QB!

 

Didn't Brandon Beane just with NFL executive of the year by both Sporting News and the Pro Football Writers of America? The only other Bills GM to accomplish that was Bill Polian. 

 

The man found QB Josh Allen who is the very best QB of that 2018 QB class. Better than #1 overall in Baker Mayfield. Better than #3 overall in Sam Darnold. Better than Josh Rosen, Lamar Jackson. 

 

Unlike the Jets GM, Beane build a solid offensive structure around Josh Allen so he could succeed. Sam Darnold who was just jettisoned by the Jets. A wasted 3rd round overall pick.

 

Frankly, who shivs a git what Beane did or didn't do in his rookie season, 2017. The Bills still made the playoffs that year and also made the playoffs in 2019, 2020.

 

The Bills were just in the 2020 AFC Championship game. 

 

How many players are still on the roster from the Nix / Whaley era? Hughes?

 

 

[BADOLBILZ]

8 hours ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

The 2010 offseason that Nix orchestrated was a complete failure and an embarrassment. 

 

Extended Chris Kelsey as the model of a Bills player.

 

Kept both of Jauron’s failed QBs, ultimately leading to Trent Edwards starting again in 2010 (and running out of bounds on 4th down in Green Bay).

 

Led the switch to a 3-4 defense and drafted failures like Troup, Carrington, Batten, Moats. In addition to complete busts Marcus Easley, Ed Wang. 
 

Drafted CJ Spiller with the 9th overall pick, and then we saw the coaching staff that wanted their “water bug” get a total of 74 total carries all season.

 

Traded Marshawn Lynch for a 3rd and 5th Round pick and watched that blow up in our faces immediately.

 

Reached back to Chan Gailey, who was out of football when the Bills came calling, and he hired George Edward’s who took the team promptly to the Bottom 5 in defense with Ryan Denney playing OLB. 

 

Famously said he’d be sleeping when Free Agency opened at 12 am. 

 

 

 

 

Yeah Nix came out the box firing blanks..........unfortunately, so did Beane.

 

The differences.........Beane had a capable HC in place........he had a better talent base(as I said at the time they took a 10-6 team to camp in 2017)..........and most important of all he went out and got a QB right away.    

 

Nix made the excuse that he wanted to build the roster up before taking his swing at a franchise QB........now granted,  he and Whaley left better talent behind than Jauron/Brandon had for Nix but you don't put off getting your QB.    

 

 

[Steve O]

On 6/4/2021 at 3:30 PM, BuffaloRebound said:

I’m sure he wants another crack at an NFL gig, but throwing your former boss under the bus even if true isn’t the way to do it.  

Neither is saying the game is too tough for humans to play

[PrimeTime101]

5 hours ago, Nihilarian said:

I agree with most of this. 

 

Brandon Beane was a rookie GM when he came to Buffalo. A rookie learning as he goes and together with McD built the team we see today...a super bowl contender! 

 

The Bills were in cap hell from the Whaley / Nix era to start. Rex Ryan took the best defensive line in the league and neutered it with his moronic scheme. The defense needed rebuilding. The offense needed rebuilding. The O line. The receiving corps. The Buffalo Bills were desperate for a franchise QB!

 

Didn't Brandon Beane just with NFL executive of the year by both Sporting News and the Pro Football Writers of America? The only other Bills GM to accomplish that was Bill Polian. 

 

The man found QB Josh Allen who is the very best QB of that 2018 QB class. Better than #1 overall in Baker Mayfield. Better than #3 overall in Sam Darnold. Better than Josh Rosen, Lamar Jackson. 

 

Unlike the Jets GM, Beane build a solid offensive structure around Josh Allen so he could succeed. Sam Darnold who was just jettisoned by the Jets. A wasted 3rd round overall pick.

 

Frankly, who shivs a git what Beane did or didn't do in his rookie season, 2017. The Bills still made the playoffs that year and also made the playoffs in 2019, 2020.

 

The Bills were just in the 2020 AFC Championship game. 

 

How many players are still on the roster from the Nix / Whaley era? Hughes?

Thank you... This is spot on. Slamming a GM for his faults and ignoring his many more victories and taking things out of context makes me ill.  Spot on reply... Thank you!

22 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

Yeah Nix came out the box firing blanks..........unfortunately, so did Beane.

 

The differences.........Beane had a capable HC in place........he had a better talent base(as I said at the time they took a 10-6 team to camp in 2017)..........and most important of all he went out and got a QB right away.    

 

Nix made the excuse that he wanted to build the roster up before taking his swing at a franchise QB........now granted,  he and Whaley left better talent behind than Jauron/Brandon had for Nix but you don't put off getting your QB.    

Unfortunately?  Is this some kind of sick sarcasm? Without Beane this team would not be anywhere near as good and as stacked ...

 

This is a horrible take... unfortunately  so did Beane? where is the puke bucket

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

On 6/4/2021 at 3:13 PM, YoloinOhio said:

https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/former-bills-gm-doug-whaley-puts-full-onus-for-ej-manuel-pick-on-buddy-nix/article_ad90009e-c548-11eb-97b4-4bb8882a4586.amp.html?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_&__twitter_impression=true

 

 

If you're going to hand over the reigns to Whaley, at least let him draft the guy he decides he sinks or swims with. EJ Manuel lost him the game before it even began. Not only did it ruin his job, but it probably cost him his career as well. He basically took a giant **** and left everyone else to clean it up. Thanks, buddy. 😒

 

You almost can't blame him for doing the Sammy Watkins trade up. Doug Whaley was throwing the GM version of a Hail Mary. Khalil Mack would of most likely been the pick if Whaley had any type of job security, but he swung for the home run instead. A player he thought could contribute right away and cover up for that *** stain of a 1st round QB. 

 

You have to give credit where credit is due and admit Buddy Nix did a excellent job of getting some actual top-tier talent to Buffalo again. He hit on a lot of high 1st & 2nd rounders such as Marcell Dareus, Stephon Gilmore, Cordy Glenn, (who played a huge part in drafting Josh Allen) Paul Poslunsny, etc. As well as some decent late-rounders/UDFAs like Nigel Bradham, Arthur Moats, David Nelson, etc.

 

I think Buddy Nix's biggest acquisition and defining move as Buffalo Bills GM was the signing of Mario Williams. People laughed when Buffalo was rumored to be one of the many teams after him. At the time, Buffalo was one of the worst (if not THE worst) free agent destination and the butt of many jokes between players.

 

After an intense bidding war, Buddy Nix pulled off one of the least expected moves of all time and signed Super Mario to a massive contract worth 100 million through 6 years w/ 50 guaranteed making if the most money ever spent on a defensive free agent. It shocked not only Buffalo, but the entire sports world as well.

 

People can debate whether they think the signing was worth it or not, but here's my take. He put up some great production while he was here and that defensive line I'm convinced is the best of all time, but the move to acquire Williams was much more than that. I think it broke down the free agent barrier and greatly improved the national perception of Buffalo being a desirable free agent destination. It paved the way for many more signings to come in the future so I'm thankful to Buddy Nix for that.

 

Sorry for the long post, but I must include the Kelvin Sheppard/Jerry Hughes swap from Indianapolis. Besides the Mario signing, this is a close #2 for best Buddy Nix move. Jerry Hughes was not exactly a BUST at the time, but he was stuck behind Dwight Freeney & Robert Mathis. The trade wasn't huge news and fans were just hoping to get some kind of value out of the wasted 3rd rounder from Sheppard. Everyone knows the ending to this story. The Colts got absolutely fleeced and Jerry Hughes is a potential future Wall of Famer and still playing! 💯  One of my favorite players and only jersey I own. 🙏 God bless 'em. 

 

All in all, if football wasn't a completely QB driven league like it is now then Nix would be an amazing GM. 😅

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 7, 2021 by ChronicAndKnuckles

[soflabillsfan1]

Doug Whaley is a bum.  I knew it from the beginning.  I was told many times on the old board that if we fired him, he'd have another NFL job the next day. Wrong wrong wrong

[Rico]

46 minutes ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

 

If you're going to hand over the reigns to Whaley, at least let him draft the guy he decides he sinks or swims with. EJ Manuel lost him the game before it even began. Not only did it ruin his job, but it probably cost him his career as well. He basically took a giant **** and left everyone else to clean it up. Thanks, buddy. 😒

 

You almost can't blame him for doing the Sammy Watkins trade up. Doug Whaley was throwing the GM version of a Hail Mary. Khalil Mack would of most likely been the pick if Whaley had any type of job security, but he swung for the home run instead. A player he thought could contribute right away and cover up for that *** stain of a 1st round QB. 

 

You have to give credit where credit is due and admit Buddy Nix did a excellent job of getting some actual top-tier talent to Buffalo again. He hit on a lot of high 1st & 2nd rounders such as Marcell Dareus, Stephon Gilmore, Cordy Glenn, (who played a huge part in drafting Josh Allen) Paul Poslunsny, etc. As well as some decent late-rounders/UDFAs like Nigel Bradham, Arthur Moats, David Nelson, etc.

 

I think Buddy Nix's biggest acquisition and defining move as Buffalo Bills GM was the signing of Mario Williams. People laughed when Buffalo was rumored to be one of the many teams after him. At the time, Buffalo was one of the worst (if not THE worst) free agent destination and the butt of many jokes between players.

 

After an intense bidding war, Buddy Nix pulled off one of the least expected moves of all time and signed Super Mario to a massive contract worth 100 million through 6 years w/ 50 guaranteed making if the most money ever spent on a defensive free agent. It shocked not only Buffalo, but the entire sports world as well.

 

People can debate whether they think the signing was worth it or not, but here's my take. He put up some great production while he was here and that defensive line I'm convinced is the best of all time, but the move to acquire Williams was much more than that. I think it broke down the free agent barrier and greatly improved the national perception of Buffalo being a desirable free agent destination. It paved the way for many more signings to come in the future so I'm thankful to Buddy Nix for that.

 

Sorry for the long post, but I must include the Kelvin Sheppard/Jerry Hughes swap from Indianapolis. Besides the Mario signing, this is a close #2 for best Buddy Nix move. Jerry Hughes was not exactly a BUST at the time, but he was stuck behind Dwight Freeney & Robert Mathis. The trade wasn't huge news and fans were just hoping to get some kind of value out of the wasted 3rd rounder from Sheppard. Everyone knows the ending to this story. The Colts got absolutely fleeced and Jerry Hughes is a potential future Wall of Famer and still playing! 💯  One of my favorite players and only jersey I own. 🙏 God bless 'em. 

 

All in all, if football wasn't a completely QB driven league like it is now then Nix would be an amazing GM. 😅

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for correctly crediting Nix for the Hughes trade. Some serious revisionist history from the old Whaley fanboys was pushed in here for a long time.

[Rico]

42 minutes ago, soflabillsfan1 said:

Doug Whaley is a bum.  I knew it from the beginning.  I was told many times on the old board that if we fired him, he'd have another NFL job the next day. Wrong wrong wrong

Russ Brandon was also supposed to be able to have his choice of pro sports President jobs if he wanted. 
 

Sorry @Kirby Jackson.  

[Jauronimo]

On 6/4/2021 at 2:28 PM, GoBills808 said:

I think they probably got the best of a really bad bunch tbh

 

 

Dude, they missed out on Glennon.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

59 minutes ago, soflabillsfan1 said:

Doug Whaley is a bum.  I knew it from the beginning.  I was told many times on the old board that if we fired him, he'd have another NFL job the next day. Wrong wrong wrong

NFL ≠ National Football League.

NFL = 'not for long' in Whaley's case.

[Jauronimo]

On 6/4/2021 at 2:44 PM, Hapless Bills Fan said:

Zing!  
 

He was lying then or lying now.  Pick one.

I would like to see a poll of how many of you throw your boss and organization or yourself under the bus in your media facing roles.  

 

Whaley actually ended his NFL career by throwing the Pegula's under the bus and admitting that he as GM has no actual power and he was roundly mocked.  Now the fanbase is wishing he had publicly admitted his Asst GM role was preparing an old man's oatmeal and he was never on board with our 1st round draft pick.

[TheFunPolice]

My favorite Buddy Nix quote of all time came from one of his sparring sessions on WGR with Howard Simon where they were trying to get him to admit that the team needed a QB:

 

"We can just let this thing go dead..."

 

Second only to him kicking off his introductory press conference as GM by saying that nobody ever accused him of being the smartest person in the room and that he hadn't really thought of being a GM. 

 

The Bills were a joke back then. We've come a LONG way. 

 

I'll say this for Buddy Nix: he is a genuine guy who is pretty straightforward. Doug Whaley has done a number of totally unprofessional things for a guy in a senior position, this being the latest. 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 7, 2021 by TheFunPolice

[Arm of Harm]

2 hours ago, Jauronimo said:

I would like to see a poll of how many of you throw your boss and organization or yourself under the bus in your media facing roles.  

 

Whaley actually ended his NFL career by throwing the Pegula's under the bus and admitting that he as GM has no actual power and he was roundly mocked.  Now the fanbase is wishing he had publicly admitted his Asst GM role was preparing an old man's oatmeal and he was never on board with our 1st round draft pick.

 

Except that he was on board with the Manuel pick. Fully. Totally. 100% completely. His current claims or implications to the contrary are an attempt to rewrite history.

 

At the time Whaley was GM, I remember being convinced that Manuel was not the answer, and hoping that at least some part of Whaley agreed with me. Even some small shred of evidence would have been welcome. But no. There was nothing. All the evidence pointed to Whaley being convinced Manuel was the answer.  It was a very frustrating time to be a Bills fan.

 

If Whaley wanted to be honest, if he'd wanted to do the right thing, he'd say, "You know what? My glowing evaluation of Manuel was a big reason why Nix chose to draft him in the first round. Once I became GM, I was convinced Manuel was the answer. I was wrong." That's it. That's all he had to say. I personally wouldn't hire him as GM if I was an owner, because the Manuel bust is not the type of mistake a competent GM would make. I'd consider him as a pro personnel director, at least if I respected his character. Which I do not.

 

[Jerry Jabber]

Whaley did a very good job in free agency, but no so much in the draft.

[Nihilarian]

The thing that most fans don't get about the Sammy Watkins pick is that the kid made most of his college receiving yards from screen plays...exactly how often did the Bills call screen plays on offense at that time? Let me answer, very little to none.

 

The Bills scouting dept., Whaley, Brandon fell into that old fail of watching highlights over and over while not understanding the fit in the offense. 

 

The thing that really gets me is that right after drafting Watkins with the #4 overall pick in 2014, the Bills announced that they were still looking for that big, tall red zone receiving threat. 

 

HELLO!  WR Mike Evans, 6' 5" 231 lbs drafted with the 7th pick In 2014. In 2013 Evans, against Alabama caught seven passes for 279 yards. (a school record) Against Auburn 11 receptions for 287 yards, 4 TDs. 

 

Holy freaking crap were the Bills FO with Whaley, Nix, Brandon totally clueless on what they were doing during that time of Buffalo Bills history. 

 

 

On another note, Nix gets credit for the Jerry Hughes trade...and yet the Colts GM at the time was desperate to get rid of his predecessor, Bill Polian's last first round pick. That Colts GM, Ryan Grigson picked up the phone and called Buffalo to initiate that trade...and not the other way around. Grigson was in such a hurry to trade away Hughes that he accepted LBer Kelvin Shepard, a third round pick straight up for a #1 pick in Hughes. 

 

Buddy Nix was a 70 year old retired scout when Buffalo hired him out of retirement to be the new Bills GM and should have never been an NFL GM.

 

And some Bills fans want to give Brandon Beane crap over some miss fires in his rookie season as GM.  Look at the current team!

Trading up and drafting Josh Allen who just broke the Buffalo Bills record for passing yards in a season. Trading a #1 pick for Diggs...who for the first time ever in Buffalo Bills history led the league in receptions, receiving yards in 2020! 

 

The man is a NFL football wizard who makes Merlin look weak. Trading Tyrod Taylor to Cleveland for a 3rd round pick! 

[Arm of Harm]

4 minutes ago, Nihilarian said:

The thing that most fans don't get about the Sammy Watkins pick is that the kid made most of his college receiving yards from screen plays...exactly how often did the Bills call screen plays on offense at that time? Let me answer, very little to none.

 

The Bills scouting dept., Whaley, Brandon fell into that old fail of watching highlights over and over while not understanding the fit in the offense. 

 

The thing that really gets me is that right after drafting Watkins with the #4 overall pick in 2014, the Bills announced that they were still looking for that big, tall red zone receiving threat. 

 

HELLO!  WR Mike Evans, 6' 5" 231 lbs drafted with the 7th pick In 2014. In 2013 Evans, against Alabama caught seven passes for 279 yards. (a school record) Against Auburn 11 receptions for 287 yards, 4 TDs. 

 

Holy freaking crap were the Bills FO with Whaley, Nix, Brandon totally clueless on what they were doing during that time of Buffalo Bills history. 

 

 

On another note, Nix gets credit for the Jerry Hughes trade...and yet the Colts GM at the time was desperate to get rid of his predecessor, Bill Polian's last first round pick. That Colts GM, Ryan Grigson picked up the phone and called Buffalo to initiate that trade...and not the other way around. Grigson was in such a hurry to trade away Hughes that he accepted LBer Kelvin Shepard, a third round pick straight up for a #1 pick in Hughes. 

 

Buddy Nix was a 70 year old retired scout when Buffalo hired him out of retirement to be the new Bills GM and should have never been an NFL GM.

 

And some Bills fans want to give Brandon Beane crap over some miss fires in his rookie season as GM.  Look at the current team!

Trading up and drafting Josh Allen who just broke the Buffalo Bills record for passing yards in a season. Trading a #1 pick for Diggs...who for the first time ever in Buffalo Bills history led the league in receptions, receiving yards in 2020! 

 

The man is a NFL football wizard who makes Merlin look weak. Trading Tyrod Taylor to Cleveland for a 3rd round pick! 

 

I agree with everything you've written, with the possible exception of the bolded.

 

Suppose you were to show a half full glass to a group of Bills fans. Responses to this would fall into one of three categories:

 

"The glass is empty."

"The glass is so full it's overflowing!"

"The glass is half full."

 

In a perfect world all responses would fall into that third category, but Bills fans don't always do well with moderation. For many it's either all or nothing.

 

With McDermott and Beane, the glass is maybe about 75% full. If we could get it to about 90%, we'd beat the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. It's perfectly reasonable for posters to talk about opportunities for improvement, whether that's wasted cap space on guys like Murphy and Addison, disappointing draft picks such as Ford and Zay Jones, bad run blocking by the interior OL, or flaws in the coaching scheme which allowed the Kansas City offense to rip the Bills defense to shreds. In no way does any of that detract from the things McDermott and Beane have done well, starting with their decision to draft Josh Allen.

[Patrick Duffy]

imo the EJ pick was on both of them since both Nix/Whaley were the ones with the most power at that time as far as the draft goes. Anyways, that class was a downright awful QB class. None of the QB's in that class should have been picked before the 5th round, and that statement is not hindsight for me. I was never a believer in Geno myself....especially EJ.

 

Although I could/can see why a team would have more likely taken a shot by with Geno. Still wouldn't have picked him no where near the 1st or 2nd round. Back then I could see using a 3rd at best. But EJ man, lol.....I for sure didn't like that pick. Especially in the 1st round. I get Bills were desperate for a QB in those days and understand wanting to take a swing due to the QB,s were (imo one of the worst, if not the worst) classes maybe ever. But was really bad to use a 1st rounder on him.

 

Anyways, glad those days are over. Water under the bridge now. I'd go through it all again knowing Bills got a player like Josh Allen.

 

 

Edited June 7, 2021 by Patrick_Duffy

[BADOLBILZ]

5 hours ago, PrimeTime101 said:

 

Unfortunately?  Is this some kind of sick sarcasm? Without Beane this team would not be anywhere near as good and as stacked ...

 

This is a horrible take... unfortunately  so did Beane? where is the puke bucket

 

 

I've given Beane plenty of props but the fact remains that he had a VERY poor start in pro personnel.      The money they wasted then is costing them now.    They have  their QB on a rookie contract and yet they are in a much tighter cap spot than they should be.    This has prevented them from making big moves this offseason.    They are going to have to bridge the gap with KC and try to stay ahead of the rest of the pack with what they have and the modest additions they've made.     It can be done.   New England did it that way for most of Brady's last dozen years with the team.    

[Albany,n.y.]

6 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Yeah Nix came out the box firing blanks..........unfortunately, so did Beane.

 

The differences.........Beane had a capable HC in place........he had a better talent base(as I said at the time they took a 10-6 team to camp in 2017)..........and most important of all he went out and got a QB right away.    

 

Nix made the excuse that he wanted to build the roster up before taking his swing at a franchise QB........now granted,  he and Whaley left better talent behind than Jauron/Brandon had for Nix but you don't put off getting your QB.    

 

 

If you go back through the archives, you can find posts of people who were adamant that a team has to build its OL before going for a QB.  Others were totally against using a 1st round pick on a QB.  Many times I would reply that you get the QB 1st & build around him and the best place to find him is in the 1st round of the draft.  I was glad that when Beane came here he stated his intention to do exactly what people on my side of the arguments wanted.  

[Patrick Duffy]

13 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

I've given Beane plenty of props but the fact remains that he had a VERY poor start in pro personnel.      The money they wasted then is costing them now.    They have  their QB on a rookie contract and yet they are in a much tighter cap spot than they should be.    This has prevented them from making big moves this offseason.    They are going to have to bridge the gap with KC and try to stay ahead of the rest of the pack with what they have and the modest additions they've made.     It can be done.   New England did it that way for most of Brady's last dozen years with the team.    

Beane has had his share of bad decisions and likely could have done more at first with some of the pretty decent players that was left for him after Whaley/Rex and co. departed. Not sure how much confidence some of those players had in going forward with Bills seeing how things went to downhill so bad. Myabe that could have played a part in him re-doing the roster the way they did.

 

I don't know, but they also wanted their own guys and whatnot..In any event, the biggest thing that makes Beane is Josh Allen. And will always be Josh Allen for the most part. But still, I give him credit though, he has done a very good job between he and coach MCD with changing culture/etc and have created a very tough team to beat.

Edited June 7, 2021 by Patrick_Duffy

[BADOLBILZ]

3 minutes ago, Albany,n.y. said:

If you go back through the archives, you can find posts of people who were adamant that a team has to build its OL before going for a QB.  Others were totally against using a 1st round pick on a QB.  Many times I would reply that you get the QB 1st & build around him and the best place to find him is in the 1st round of the draft.  I was glad that when Beane came here he stated his intention to do exactly what people on my side of the arguments wanted.  

 

Getting the QB as soon as possible should have been common sense.    Watching them march Edwards back out there and hearing the excuse that they were going to use "that season" to evaluate the roster was disheartening.    That roster had been evaluated for 3 years prior.   All they needed to do was watch the tape.

 

But there are always fans who want to draft a RB in round 1 or nod in agreement when a Marv Levy says that he plans to draft for need.

[Nihilarian]

When you have a dysfunctional front office and coaching staff...why on earth would a new regime want to watch old tape of that circus side show?

 

I can understand why McD went forward with Tyrod as starting QB to see what they had with him under their new coaches.

 

What we learned was... that nobody is safe if you don't do a good enough job. New coaches fired and replaced. Many, many players let go and replaced. 

 

When the GM saw that a #1 pick wasn't going his job in Buffalo... they shipped him out. They didn't attempt to keep making things work with the wrong players. A #2 pick in Zay Jones, buh bye!

 

The list is almost endless of Bills players that have been jettisoned to make room for new players that work hard, make plays and buy into the system. 

 

Hence, a trip to the AFC Championship game in 2020. I think we can expect more winning seasons under this regime. 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

On 6/4/2021 at 4:23 PM, hmsmystic said:

Not sure I'm a fan of a Whaley going on record throwing Nix under the bus- leadership needs to take ownership of mistakes.  That said, he probably isn't making this up- at the time EJ wasn't regarded as a sure fire 1st round pick as I recall.

I'll never forget some of those 1st practices I got to attend at SJF college EJs rookie year.  EJ strolls out, Tom Selleck mustache and some swagger and I'm thinking- well-- maybe we got something here!  Then he proceeds to throw every other pass into the stands and we all knew then we were in trouble-- again.

Articles like this make me thankful even more for McBeane!

 

Not to toot my own horn, but I knew that guy was a bust within his first few games. He never looked fluid in his motions at all kind of like an Android imitating a quarterback. You know you're playing like crap when Kyle Orton comes in and looks like Peyton Manning.