Pro: Unless new ownership comes in, GMs normally get 4-5 years at minimum to try and turn around a franchise. It always seems like they would get two coaches under their leadership and then if they fail, the GM would be the fall guy.
Con: Buddy Nix is in his 70s. He's never been a GM before this job. If it took him almost 30 years or whatever for him to get a crack at being the GM, maybe he was better suited for being a lifetime scout. He also hired a coach who won 16 games in a 3-year stretch, which is the lowest for the franchise since 1984-1986.
Pro: This was a MAJOR rebuilding process. This wasn't like what the Carolina Panthers or New York Jets future GM will inherit when he takes over. There was nothing but garbage here when Buddy took over. It was an old, talentless roster. Say what you will, but the talent is much better now than in 2009.
Con: The Bills have missed the playoffs for 13 years straight. A overhaul from top to bottom would/should be encouraged. Getting to the playoffs in three years shouldn't be that hard to ask for.
Pro: By comparison to the Modrak/Donahoe/Levy drafts, in the short term, Buddy's 1st round picks have been better. CJ Spiller, Marcell Dareus and Stephon Gilmore look to be better than what his predecessors drafted in the first round.
Con: Passed on the likes of Andy Dalton, Rob Gronkowski, Russell Wilson and Colin Kapernick. Selected CJ Spiller when running backs weren't a problem here besides running over fat chicks. Aside from Spiller, the 2010 Draft class looks to be a shit storm disaster. Only QB the Bills drafted under Buddy was Levi Brown.
Pro: Was able to help lure in Mario Williams when everyone thought it was a pipe dream. Extended Stevie Johnson. He, along with others, convinced Ralph Wilson to open his checkbook for a number of players.
Con: Most of his free agents/contract extensions for players have been a disaster. 2010: Andra Davis/Dwan Edwards/Kelsay extension. 2011: Brad Smith and Tyler Thigpen signing. Merriman's ridiculous contract extension. Fitzpatrick extended. 2012: Mark Anderson played like 4 games after signing a huge deal. Mario Williams was inconsistent. Vince Young/Jackson backup saga.
Pro: Does have ties to Marty Schottenheimer. Yes, fuck you. I like the idea of Marty here.
Con: People keep talking up Doug Whaley as being the heir apparent. If you keep Nix, you may risk losing Whaley to another team. How long can you be an understudy when GM jobs across the league are opening?
Pro: No one wants to come to this hell hole.
Con: No one wants to come to this hell hole.
Final word: Honestly, if we were a franchise that was in a 4-5 year playoff drought, I'd probably be inclined to keep him. Just going by the NFL GM's timelines, it is not insane to have two coaches under their belt. However, the Bills are such a dysfunctional organization, I just automatically think everyone they hire is a complete buffoon. Buddy hasn't done enough to improve this team. I go back to what I thought in 2009, the Bills needed to fire everyone in one fell swoop. They needed to hire an outsider. A proven head coach or GM.
They hired a scout (Buddy) down the hallway to be the GM and then promoted the former "GM" (Russ) to CEO.
If you keep him and hire a new coach, you are just cutting off a branch of this rotted tree instead of cutting from the roots. Sure, the roster may be better, but what are we comparing it to? A bunch of rosters that underachieved for years in Buffalo? Compare the roster to the likes of the Pats, Broncos and 49ers. That's what you want to aim for, not the previous reincarnations of Buffalo's failing teams.
Seriously, do you really think Buddy can ride this ship correctly? I don't and that's why he should be gone.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
