New Buffalo Bills GM Doug Whaley

by Steve

Unsurprisingly the Buffalo Bills hired Doug Whaley as their new general manager.  My first instinct is to shit on this hire as another in house uninspired next guy up approach to running the organization.  And after a few days of sleeping on it my mind hasn't changed.

Do I hate or even dislike the hire? No, not really.  Whaley is young (41), black and from the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, all positives.  But, the guy has been an employee of the Bills already for 4 years.  He has learned under the likes of Tom Modrak, Buddy Nix and idiot Russ Brandon.  Not great company if I do say so myself.

Why hire a coach, draft a quarterback and revamp the entire team then hire a new GM?  I guess I'll assume Whaley was completely on board with both coach Doug Marrone and quarterback EJ Manuel?  Could he use Nix as a scape goat in 2-3 years when/if both fail at their job?

Was there really no one else worth interviewing in the entire world after Bud Nix "stepped down"?  Is it really the best path to take having a guy waiting in the wings guaranteed to take over a job he may or may not be qualified for?  Won't we all miss Nix jamming the phrase "here's a guy" in every interview?

I have no reason to give anyone at OBD the benefit of the doubt and I certainly do not trust any decision that Brandon makes.  Christ, he almost makes the Sabres organization look competent based on his history at the helm.

The most interesting and under looked aspect of this whole hiring process (ya know besides actually interviewing anyone) is the hiring of  Jim Monos and Kelvin Fisher.  Who? Yes, of course, we aren't going to know who these guys would be any way; but how about some biographical information on these two guys who now make up the rest of the Bills new front office?

Jim Monos (jr?) is nearly ungoogleable.  Mark Guaghan of the Buffalo News gives him credit for the New Orleans Saints drafting 5 "pro bowlers" in the 3rd round or later while he was a scout there.  He was with the 'aints for 8 years after starting out with the Eagles.  I can't even find his age other than he was in college in 1995 which leads me to believe he is something like 37 years old.  bb.com says he is Director of Player Personnel.

Kelvin Fisher, Director of College Scouting, was hired away from the Steelers where he was a scout (and is still listed on their front office page). Evidently he graduated high school in 1987 (so he's 43?) and went to Arizona State as a full back.  Other than that he is pretty ungoogleable himself.

Hopefully we hear more from those guys in the future.  Basically, I am not willing to give Whaley or anyone at OBD the benefit of the doubt.  We don't know if it will work but things already seem like the same old same old, hire the safe guy.