Buddy presser today
Bills GM Buddy Nix will be holding his season wrap up press conference today (Monday) at 11 am. We’ll have full coverage here on Buffalobills.com.
Nix and Bills CEO Russ Brandon met with Mr. Wilson in Detroit late last week for their assessment of the 2011 season and plans for the 2012 offseason.
Talk with Fisher continue
Tags: Bills training camp, Russ Brandon, St. John Fisher
Bills CEO Russ Brandon continued discussions about a contract extension with St. John Fisher as the training camp home of the Bills for the foreseeable future on Saturday night.
“We’re continuing discussions,” said Brandon. ”I met with (SJF President) Dr. Bain tonight and we’re going to meet with him again on Wednesday, but we’re thinking within the next month we’ll have an extension done to be there long term.”
The reconfigured grass fields are what posed a big problem for the team and coaching staff this summer. Brandon is confident that issued has been resolved based on his discussions with the college.
“We’ve come to a pretty good consensus on what we need to get done there, and I don’t think the field will be an issue anymore,” he said. ”I think we’re pretty pleased with what they’ve done.”
Bills brass on the radio
Bills CEO Russ Brandon and Bills GM Buddy Nix will be on the radio airwaves this afternoon. Here’s the rundown on when and where they’ll be appearing.
Russ Brandon – The John DiTullio Show; 1280 WHTK & FM 107.3 (Rochester) at 3:45 PM (listen online)
Buddy Nix – Shredd and Ragan; 103.3 The Edge at 4:00 PM (listen online)
Buddy Nix – Prime Time Sports w/ Bob McCown; Fan 590 at 5:20 PM (listen online)
New turf has new elements
The new turf going in at Ralph Wilson Stadium is going to have some new elements.
Bills CEO Russ Brandon mentioned some of them, which appeared on the Buffalo Bills twitter account.
Bills-Toronto Series update
Bills CEO Russ Brandon covered the whole gamut of items on Buffalo’s table this offseason and beyond during local media interviews this week. That included comment on the future of the Bills Toronto Series.
When asked if negotiations have begun on a new agreement to stretch beyond the current five-year deal here was Brandon’s comment.
“We have had discussions with them right now about where the agreement is with the CBA and with the game this year,” said Brandon. ”Our focus right now is playing the Redskins up in Toronto. They have some new leadership there, obviously Phil Lind is their vice chairman and Keith Pelley is their new president. Keith and I have had some conversations relative to our current agreement. We anticipate having some discussions moving forward.”
Buffalo’s current agreement lasts through the 2012 season. Brandon also said that Toronto has to be part of the franchise’s regional footprint for the long term.
Bills CEO talks lease
Bills CEO Russ Brandon covered a wide range of topics during local media interviews this week including the prospects on a new lease agreement with Erie County. Here were Brandon’s comments regarding those developments with Erie County Executive Chris Collins.
“Chris (Collins) and I have had some conversations,” he said. ”We are both going to be very focused with our organization and with the county moving forward, once we understand the CBA. We are just going to sit back and see what happens when the CBA comes out. There is no reason to reach or think or pretend that we know what is in the documents moving forward. So, once we have a clear awareness of what the runway is with the CBA, we will sit down and have some meaningful discussions.”
So it sounds as if everything is in a holding pattern until a new Collective Bargaining Agreement provides a road map. The Bills current lease with Erie County expires in 2012.
Brandon says no AEG contact
Tags: Russ Brandon
Even though there have been reports that AEG has contacted more than the five NFL clubs it made public for possible relocation to Los Angeles, Bills CEO Russ Brandon stated Thursday that they haven’t made contact with him.
When asked during a media interview Thursday if AEG had contacted the Bills, the team’s CEO said they had not.
“Not that I am aware of,” said Brandon. ”They did not contact me.”
When asked what he would say if AEG did contact the Bills Brandon said the following.
“We are very happy in Buffalo… Our focus is right here in Buffalo – point blank, period. That is where it is going to be for many years to come.”
The five NFL teams identified in the report were Jacksonville, Minnesota, Oakland, St. Louis and San Diego. There were subsequent reports that more NFL teams were contacted by AEG reps, but apparently the Bills are not one of them per Brandon.
Buffalo’s CEO made several more comments in the interview including about the team’s future viability.
Bills CEO on the radio
Bills CEO Russ Brandon, who was on hand for the owner’s meetings outside Chicago Tuesday, will be on the radio airwaves Wednesday morning.
Brandon is scheduled to appear on 97 Rock at 7:45 am. Presumably he’ll be asked about the mood and tenor of the dialogue that took place among the 32 clubs Tuesday as well as the Bills new uniforms, which will be unveiled on Friday night.
The Bills CEO is also scheduled to appear on 97 Rock’s sister station, 103.3 The Edge shortly after his first radio interview at 7:45 am.
Tonight’s call with the commish
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will be fielding questions from Bills season ticket holders tonight (Monday) in a teleconference at 6:30 pm. Bills CEO Russ Brandon will be introducing the commissioner this evening.
“Tonight’s call the commissioner provides a great forum for Bills season ticket holders,” said Brandon. ”I look forward to listening at 6:30.”
Goodell has done about a dozen such teleconferences with season ticket holders in other NFL cities and Buffalo is the next in line. I will be moderating the call with the commissioner this evening. We’ll have recap late tonight on Buffalobills.com.
Fan Friday 12-25
Tags: Dez Bryant, Fan Friday, Perry Fewell, Russ Brandon, Sam Bradford, Terrell Owens, Tom Telesco
Merry Christmas Bills fans. Wish the team had more to put under your tree this year. We can only hope the New Year brings positive change. I have faith that it will. Let’s get to it.
1. Hey Chris,
Any chance Owens stays next year?
Thanks,
Daniel Diaz
CB: I think the chances of Terrell Owens re-signing with the Bills is pretty remote. Owens has said he wants to play two more years, and he no doubt wants to be a bigger part of the offense than he has been this season in Buffalo. With a rebuilding project set to begin in Buffalo this offseason and a lot unknowns with respect to the offensive system, quarterback, head coach, general manager, I believe Owens will look to land with a more stable situation elsewhere in the league.
Of course there has to be demand for his services too, which wasn’t the case this past offseason. We’ll see what the market looks like for him, but with his career winding down I think he’d like to still be productive. So he’s going to go to a team where he has the highest probability of doing that.
2. What’s the latest on the Bills search for a GM? Is there a search going on or are they going to wait until the season ends and try to fill the GM/Coach with one person?
Thanks,
Bob
CB: I think Russ Brandon is playing things very close to the vest on purpose. After all the reports about the Shanahan meeting, I think he’d prefer to keep the process out of the public eye.
I believe the Bills will try to hire a proven coach with a recognizable name. If that happens then I believe the director of Football Operations will be a young football man on his way up from a proven NFL front office.
If they cannot land a big name head coach then I believe the Dir. of Football Ops would be a recognizable name and he will hire a promising coach.
I think the big name will be in one of those positions or the other, but not both. Just my opinion.
3. Hello Chris,
Well, I have already moved into the next draft. If T.O. does not re-up and a top veteran QB is not signed, I have a hypothetical question for you. If both of these players were available to the Bills, would they select Dez Bryant or Sam Bradford?
Jim
Skaneateles
CB: I don’t see them taking a receiver. Even though it’s not likely that Terrell Owens and possibly Josh Reed are not back with the team next season, I think receiver is not a top priority. The top position needs are quarterback, offensive tackle, linebacker and defensive tackle. I admire Bradford’s accuracy and command of an offense. He was super productive at Oklahoma his junior year.
But that throwing shoulder is going to have a lot of questions to answer coming off surgery and they might not be answered until right before the draft based on his prognosis. That’s a major, major concern when you’re investing a high draft pick. As great as that positional need is for Buffalo I just don’t know.
4. Chris,
After bringing back Buddy Nix earlier this year, do the Bills have any chance of landing a guy like Indy’s personnel director, Tom Telesco as GM? How about any other Bill Polian or John Butler/AJ Smith disciples? Have the bridges between the organization and those guys been completely burned?
Thanks for taking the time
Andy
Rome, NY
CB: No, I don’t think there are any burned bridges there. Bill Polian and Ralph Wilson are on much better terms than when Polian left the Bills organization. With respect to Tom Telesco I think he’d be a very good candidate. He’s been running the Colts pro and college scouting departments for years and he’s a Hamburg native.
I believe working for his hometown team is something he’d probably be interested in if offered a Director of Football Operations type role. Whether he’s on the Bills short list or not I do not know.
5. Hello Chris,
Have you heard anything concrete and/or rumoresque on the Bills search for a new coach? Seems like that story went silent in a hurry.
Thanks, Jim
CB: I think the situation now is the Bills cannot talk to any other coaching candidates they might be interested in because they are still working for other teams. By rule another team can’t speak to a coaching candidate currently working for another team until that team’s season is over and with permission from that team of course.
Shanahan: “We had an excellent meeting.”
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter Bills COO/GM has met with former Denver head coach Mike Shanahan in Denver.
Per the report, Brandon was very persuasive with his pitch to Shanahan.
“We had an excellent meeting,” Shanahan told Schefter Wednesday. “I was really impressed with Russ Brandon and everything he had to say. We’re going to stay in touch and see what develops.”
This is certainly a positive first step. Unlike Cowher and Holmgren, who have reportedly declined to meet with Bills officials until the end of the season, Shanahan at least sounds as if he’s considering what the Bills have put before him.
NFL.com: Shanahan to meet with Bills next week
Tags: Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan, Ralph Wilson, Russ Brandon
In the rapidly changing world of the NFL hiring process, a meeting with former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan is apparently going to take place next week for the Bills front office.
That according to NFL.com’s Vic Carucci, who said owner Ralph Wilson and COO/GM Russ Brandon will meet with Shanahan next week as Brandon is overseeing the hiring process. It sounds as if the organization is ready to cede control of the entire personnel side of the organization over to a coach the caliber of Shanahan, who Carucci reports is currently the frontrunner for the position.
Even though Washington has tried more than once to lure Shanahan to run their organization, Buffalo’s job is apparently more appealing due to the solid financial footing it rests on with respect to salary cap and dead money on its books in player salaries.
Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher is also on a short list, but Shanahan is the main focus, likely due to his strong offensive background, an area of Buffalo’s team that has been near the bottom of the league for most of the decade.
Jauron on meeting with Mr. Wilson
Tags: Alex Van Pelt, Dick Jauron, Eric Studesville, Ralph Wilson, Russ Brandon
Bills head coach Dick Jauron understandably didn’t provide a whole lot of details on the meeting between himself, Alex Van Pelt, Eric Studesville, GM Russ Brandon and owner Ralph Wilson in Detroit. But he explain why the meeting took place.
It sounded as though Mr. Wilson wanted to get a better feel for the new direction of the offense under Alex Van Pelt, who Jauron confirmed after practice Sunday should be referred to as the offensive coordinator now.
Jauron said he felt at the end of the meeting that Mr. Wilson was comfortable with the changes.
“I did,” said Jauron. ”I felt like he was pretty comfortable before we got there. He’s known Alex for a long time, but he hasn’t known him as his offensive coordinator. He wanted to talk to him, he wanted to talk to Eric and he wanted to talk to me and Russ. It was really a good day.”
Bills not interested in acquiring Vick
Bills COO/GM Russ Brandon confirmed for Buffalobills.com that the club would not be interested in adding Michael Vick to the roster.
“We do not have interest at this time,” said Brandon. “We are comfortable with our roster as it is.”
This stance should come as no surprise. The organization has been staunchly behind Trent Edwards believing he will take a big step forward in his third NFL season. Everyone on Buffalo’s roster is also fully behind Edwards, who is unquestionably ‘the guy.’ If you bring in a veteran like Vick, who has had success in the league, it could potentially undermine the commitment the organization has made to Edwards.
And that is not a situation the organization wants in such an important season, especially with a player that may or may not be available if you need him due to injury to your starting QB anyway.
Russ Brandon on the FAN 590 today
Tags: Russ Brandon
This afternoon (Tuesday) Bills COO/GM Russ Brandon will be making a radio appearance. He’ll be on the FAN590 in Toronto.
Brandon is scheduled to appear at 2:40 pm. You can listen to the interview live online.
BNP to recognize Bills franchise as Enduring Partner
Tags: Russ Brandon
The Buffalo Niagara Partnership is recognizing the Bills franchise as well as several other WNY companies for their 50 years of contributing to the region, with an event entitled Endurance All Stars. Scheduled for June 2nd at the UB Center for the Arts, the event will celebrate Partnership members like the Bills that have been employing people and contributing to the region for 50 years.
The general public is encouraged to be part of the festivities, which will include a presentation on the 50-year path of Buffalo’s most enduring companies. Bills COO/GM Russ Brandon will be a keynote speaker, and select Bills players and coaches will also be on hand.
Tastings from local restaurants and an open bar are also part of the evening. You can register for the event online or by calling 541-1770.
The Bills are speaking (RB) on behalf of all the Buffalo area businesses (with the 50th Season tie-in). We are also the sponsor of the event but it is being run by BNP. It’s basically a celebration of Buffalo companies employing people and contributing to the region over the past 50 years…they are focusing on the positive side of the economy issues.
Brandon says talks with NFL teams has been “steady”
In an exclusive interview with Buffalobills.com just an hour before the draft gets underway, Bills COO/GM Russ Brandon talked about the mood in the draft room, how much they’ve whittled down their options for their 11th pick and described the level of discussion with other NFL teams.
Brandon termed the level of discussion with other NFL teams as “steady.” He also said they’ve got a few specific prospects singled out for their choice at 11. Stay tuned to Buffalobills.com all weekend for wall to wall draft coverage.
Pre-draft text chat with Bills COO/GM Brandon
Hey Bills draftniks, sign up to join the Bills TXT Chat with Bills Chief Operating Officer/GM Russ Brandon, which will take place just three days before the draft on April 22nd at 7pm.
Just TXT Draft to 20785. All registered participants are eligible to win an autographed helmet from the Bills 1st round draft pick.
You can also sign up at our registration page and submit your draft question. Good luck.
Trent texted Bills COO/GM Brandon when T.O. was released
By no means was Bills QB Trent Edwards playing GM when he did this and he actually downplays it in our exclusive interview with him on Buffalobills.com, but when he saw on TV out in California that Terrell Owens had been released by the Cowboys, Trent texted Bills COO/GM Russ Brandon the following to see if Buffalo would be pursuing T.O..
‘What about T.O.?’
Obviously Brandon and the rest of the Bills hierarchy had already been huddling on it and thought he was worth pursuing. Got to like that the team’s offensive leader is just as eager to seek out talent that can improve the team as anyone else in the organization.
“I have been in touch with Russ all offseason and we have a pretty close relationship when it comes to that,” said Edwards. “It was just a question thrown out there if we were considering him and it was sort of an inquiry. That was really about it.”
