By Tim Graham
One month ago, Buffalo Bills General Manager Buddy Nix sounded definitive when discussing his intention to acquire the team's quarterback of the future immediately.
Nix spoke with such conviction that he declared the Bills needed to address their quarterback problem "this year," even though he likely was speaking of the 2013 draft in April.
Since then, however, comments from Nix and coach Chan Gailey have muddied the water. Nothing looks clear regarding what the Bills plan to do.
Associated Press reporter John Wawrow on Wednesday caught up with Nix, who again tempered last month's statements. Nix suggested the Bills will strongly consider selecting a quarterback in the upcoming draft, but left wiggle room.
"I think the priority is the same," Nix said. "I think [fans] could take it to the bank every year. We had that intent every year, and we've got it again. Hopefully, they know me well enough that that's what we'll try to do if the guy's there."
Yet with Nix's supposedly recurring "priority," he has yet to draft a quarterback for the Bills to groom. In Nix's first three drafts, the Bills have selected one quarterback: Levi Brown out of Troy in the 2010 seventh round. Brown didn't make the team out of training camp.
Gailey last week reiterated his support for Ryan Fitzpatrick to be Buffalo's starting quarterback next year.
"We want to have a young quarterback we can develop and will be around for eight to 10 years," Nix said. "We're all looking for a Jim Kelly. And I'll tell you this: If you like a quarterback, and like him in the third round, then you had better take him in the second."
