INDIANAPOLIS (WGR 550) -- Throughout the off-season, the Buffalo Bills have remained very firm in their belief that Assistant General Manager Doug Whaley wouldn't leave the franchise to pursue opportunities. With Saturday's news, it only confirms those thoughts.
The Bills announced that they have agreed to terms and have signed a contract extension with Whaley. Details of the contract were undisclosed.
Having been with the Bills since 2010, Whaley has been groomed by the Bills to eventually take over for GM Buddy Nix, whenever the day comes that the 73-year old decides to retire. It has not been decided, however, when that switch will occur has yet to be revealed.
"There is no timetable for that," Team President Russ Brandon said Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "But Doug Whaley is not going anywhere. He's our assistant GM, and he's in charge of all personnel, and Doug is -- he's locked in to Buffalo for the foreseeable future. There's no transition, timetable, plan. Buddy, he and I will meet when it's appropriate. But we haven't discussed that at all."
With the announcement of the extension on Saturday, Brandon reaffirmed that stance.
"We are very pleased with the structure of our football operation and look forward to working with Buddy, Doug and the entire staff for many years to come," he said. "As we have stated previously, there is no timetable for the transition. Our focus continues to be on building the foundation for a winning program."
Nix also chimed in via the team's press release.
"I am happy that we have secured Doug's services into the future and look forward to a smooth transition of the position when the time comes."
When meeting with the media on Thursday in Indianapolis, the GM addressed his future without revealing any details.
"Doug's situation hasn't changed. I think you're maybe less than confident in what you do, if you can't put your replacement in place," Nix said. "I was on the job three months when I hired Doug. Nothing's changed with him. My energy level or anything hasn't changed. Look, I'm not going to do this till I'm 100, I promise you. I'd like to know I'd be around till then. I'll decide that. I'll sit down with Russ and we'll do it. But to put a timetable on it, I started something and I'd like to see it through."
The Bills and the rest of the NFL will continue to scout and meet with players eligible for the 2013 NFL Draft in Indianapolis through Tuesday.
