Buddy Nix, former director of scouting for the Buffalo Bills, has been named the team's new General Manager. Nix, who is 70 years old, spent 7 years in San Diego and served as Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel. Nix will report to Russ Brandon who has been promoted to the Chief Executive Officer of the Bills.
Fan reaction to this hire is likely to be mixed. In some regards, this is a hire from within - Nix spent years with the Bills and is not the big name many fans were hoping for. Buddy Nix is not as well known as Mike Shanahan, Bill Cowher or Mike Holmgren. That said, this is much better than the disaster scenario - the hiring of Tom Modrak as the GM. Further, Nix does have an impressive resume. While in San Diego, Nix was credited with playing a key role in drafts and the Chargers drafted 28 pro bowl players over 4 years.
Nix was reportedly caught up in the San Diego power struggle between A.J. Smith and Marty Schottenheimer. Nix sided with Schottenheimer who was ultimately fired by Chargers boss Dean Spanos. This history raises the prospect that Nix will lobby to bring Marty Schottenheimer in as the Bills new head coach. Schottenheimer, who coached for 21 seasons in the NFL, has a career record of 200-126-1. That, of course, is a vast upgrade over Dick Jauron.
Nix has a lot of personality and is likely to win over Bills fans fairly quickly. At his introductory press conference, he said the Bills are "not that far away" from being very competitive. Let's hope he's right. It's been a long, ugly, tough decade.
Photo courtesy of bolthype.com
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Fan reaction to this hire is likely to be mixed. In some regards, this is a hire from within - Nix spent years with the Bills and is not the big name many fans were hoping for. Buddy Nix is not as well known as Mike Shanahan, Bill Cowher or Mike Holmgren. That said, this is much better than the disaster scenario - the hiring of Tom Modrak as the GM. Further, Nix does have an impressive resume. While in San Diego, Nix was credited with playing a key role in drafts and the Chargers drafted 28 pro bowl players over 4 years.
Nix was reportedly caught up in the San Diego power struggle between A.J. Smith and Marty Schottenheimer. Nix sided with Schottenheimer who was ultimately fired by Chargers boss Dean Spanos. This history raises the prospect that Nix will lobby to bring Marty Schottenheimer in as the Bills new head coach. Schottenheimer, who coached for 21 seasons in the NFL, has a career record of 200-126-1. That, of course, is a vast upgrade over Dick Jauron.
Nix has a lot of personality and is likely to win over Bills fans fairly quickly. At his introductory press conference, he said the Bills are "not that far away" from being very competitive. Let's hope he's right. It's been a long, ugly, tough decade.
Photo courtesy of bolthype.com
http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/8460/dont-nix-this-bills-decision-just-yet