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Buffalo Bills’ Doug Whaley, E.J. Manuel Help Usher in Needed Youth Movement

May 20th, 2013 at 9:00 AM
By Paul Lane Sabres 101

Whether the Buffalo Bills have actually improved offseason is a debatable issue.

But they've undoubtedly gotten a whole lot younger, which could be a harbinger of better things to come.

From top to bottom, the organization has shed years in hopes that a younger, fresher approach could end the club's record 13-year playoff drought.

'EJ Manuel Buffalo Bills NFL Draft 1st Rd Pick QB' photo (c) 2013, Zennie Abraham - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

The club got a full half-century younger in the president's job alone. Owner Ralph Wilson still signs the checks, but the 94-year-old turned over control of the team to 45-year-old Russ Brandon. He, in turn, hired 40-year-old Doug Whaley to replace 73-year-old Buddy Nix as general manager and 48-year-old Doug Marrone to replace 61-year-old Chan Gailey as coach.

Gailey also served as offensive coordinator, a job now in the hands of 33-year-old Nathaniel Hackett. And on the defensive side, 46-year-old Mike Pettine takes over for 61-year-old Dave Wannstedt.

The Bills – long known for their old-school stance on league matters – now have the youngest front office trio in the NFL. Brandon, Whaley and Marrone have an average age of 44 years. Brandon said that is in line with the promises he made upon his promotion in January to bring new thinking to One Bills Drive:

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EJ Manuel Could Be First Week Starter for Buffalo Bills

May 20th, 2013 at 8:27 AM
By Samuel Gerould

Rookie quarterback EJ Manuel could be the Buffalo Bills’ opening day starter this season.

While appearing on NFL Network’s Total Access, new Bills’ general manager Doug Whaley was asked about Manuel starting. Whaley didn’t come out and say Manuel would be the for-sure starter, but he said it is a possibility.

“Time will tell,” Whaley said. ”He does have the work ethic and the leadership qualities that he’ll have a chance.”

Manuel will have to battle against quarterbacks Kevin Kolb, Tarvaris Jackson and Jeff Tuel for the starting spot. This competition, Whaley said, will make all four quarterbacks better players.

“We believe competition brings out the best in everybody,” Whaley told the NFL Network. “Between him (Manuel), Kevin Kolb, Tarvaris Jackson, even Jeff Tuel, we’re excited to see who comes out on top of that position battle.”

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Ruben Brown Thinks Doug Whaley Will Have Big Impact as General Manager

May 18th, 2013 at 9:36 PM
By Samuel Gerould

Former Buffalo Bill Ruben Brown believes Doug Whaley will do well as Bills general manager.

Brown, who was speaking on The John Murphy Show, said he and Whaley were teammates on the University of Pittsburgh football team. Brown said Whaley was smart, aggressive and able to build strong relationships with teammates.

“He could deal with a lot of different backgrounds and upbringings and cultures,” Brown told the radio show. “It was a big melting pot of different people from all across the country coming to Pittsburgh. Doug was a bright guy that everyone could talk to, you could discuss all types of issues with him. And he respected his knowledge and how well he understood the game of football.”

As a general manager, Brown said Whaley will bring a fresh approach.

“Going forward, there’s going to be a real aggressive eye on the talent that’s in the building or coming into the building,” Brown said.

Brown said Whaley reminds him of former Bills' general manager John Butler.

“It’s going to be like a John Butler type thing,” Brown said, “someone who could walk in the locker room, put his hand on a guy, look in his face, and see whether he’s invested the right amount of money in him.”

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Buffalo Bills Add Two More to Personnel Department

May 17th, 2013 at 1:10 PM
By Mike Matisz

 

Buffalo Bills have announced that on the same day Doug Whaley was named general manager, they have now hired Jim Monos to serve as Director of Player Personnel and Kelvin Fisher as the team’s new Director of College Scouting.
 
“Jim Monos and Kelvin Fisher bring a wealth of player personnel experience from championship organizations to their new roles with the Buffalo Bills,” said Whaley. “Both men have a keen eye for talent and will play a pivotal role in our talent evaluation process for years to come. We are excited to add two well-respected and innovative personnel professionals to this organization.”
 
Both men are experienced in scouting and examining young talent, which is something that the Bills will look to use to their advantage as the team looks to make improvements all over their roster. 
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Buffalo Bills Name Doug Whaley as New General Manager

May 16th, 2013 at 9:10 AM
By Anthony Custode Jr.

As expected after Buddy Nix stepped down from the position, Doug Whaley has been named the new general manager of the Buffalo Bills.

Whaley has served as the team's Assistant General Manager and Director of Pro Personnel for the past three years and has seen his role expand each year he was with the Bills. 

While Nix is no longer serving the Bills in the general manager role, he has remained with the team, and is confident in Whaley's abilities.

“He did a great job of helping to pick players and scouting,” Bills Special Assistant Buddy Nix told Buffalobills.com. “He’s a level-headed mature guy and he makes the right decisions. He’s very loyal and will be to the Bills for a long time.”

Prior to his stint in Buffalo, Whaley spent 11 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was on the staff when the team won two Super Bowls.

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