2011 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills Fans Need to Put Their Faith in Buddy Nix

We are now on the eve of the 2011 NFL Draft. With all of the feedback that I continue to receive from our loyal Buffalo Bills followers, there appears to be a growing sentiment that fans are prepared to bolt the team if certain players are drafted.

While I appreciate the passion that our fans have for the team, everyone needs to appreciate and understand that Buddy Nix and his staff have done a wonderful job at evaluating the talent available in this year's draft. Whenever you see a college pro day of a key player on the NFL Network, Buddy Nix is on the sidelines checking out the player firsthand.

The Bills brought in many key players for personal visits. The team had the entire South roster from the Senior Bowl at their disposal for the entire week. There was a Thursday-night swap where the Bills were able to access the North roster, and the Bengals did the same with the South team.

The growing sentiment suggests that the Bills should draft Alabama nose tackle Marcell Dareus or Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller. I have endorsed both of those players and I  would be overjoyed if either one becomes a member of the Bills team.

However, what happens with the first two picks is completely out of the Bills control. If  both Miller and Dareus are gone, then all bets are off. The Bills at that point would have to go back to their draft board, and will probably draft the best athlete available. I have grave reservations that Bills fans would have a major disconnect with the draft and their favorite team.

If Nix no longer has his first or second options, he may feel it is in the best short and long-term interests of the team to draft a player that could become the Bills' franchise quarterback. That player could either be Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert.

Do I know for a fact that this will happen? Of course not. I have no idea what will go down tomorrow night. But I just want to give Bills fans the heads up that this is a reasonable possibility. All I ask is that we would give any new player to the team the benefit of the doubt and let him prove his worth to us before judgment is cast.

Past draft day busts were not conducted by Buddy Nix or Chan Gailey. They are trying their best to turn the Bills in to a winning team, so we can't hold them accountable for their past transgressions.

I think the Bills braintrust will address the team's defensive deficiencies. But there was a reason that Nix and Head Coach Chan Gailey keep suggesting that the "need for a franchise quarterback trumps everything else".

Bills fans have come to form a natural bond with starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, and rightfully so. I am one of his boosters. His playing style and toughness is something Bills fans can easily relate to. But we need to recognize that Fitzpatrick is playing on the final year of his contract and that he may choose to leave the team for a bigger pay day with another team in 2012. Where would the Bills team be then if he leaves Buffalo?

Bills fans have to be able to put aside their personal feelings for Fitzpatrick and be more in tune with the big picture.

I will get off of my soap box now and start going through the preparations for what unfolds Thursday evening at the Radio City Music Hall. Bills fans would be wise to remove all sharp objects that are anywhere near their television sets. Also, try to watch the draft on the first floor, as opposed to the penthouse. There are only so many Bills fans as it is. We don't want to lose any more.

For all of our sakes, I hope that the No. 3 pick will result in Von Miller or Marcell Dareus being drafted, and that the draft card says that one of them is now a member of the Buffalo Bills.