Bills president Russ Brandon (left) at a press conference while seated next to general manager Buddy Nix. (US Presswire)

The Bills rang in the new year with talk of change and a new direction following Russ Brandon’s promotion from CEO to president on Tuesday. Brandon assumed the duties of president from 94-year-old owner Ralph Wilson Jr., whom the team will no longer answer to regarding day-to-day operations.

What exactly does the change mean for the Bills? Here’s a look at what stands out after yet another eventful day at One Bills Drive:

Ralph Wilson no longer oversees day-to-day operations

Brandon has effectively been given the keys to the car in Buffalo. Wilson passed along his title of president to Brandon, which gives Brandon final say on any and all decisions regarding the organization.

“When he provided me the opportunity and told me that he was passing the torch to me to run the operation with no restrictions or limitations it was a very daunting, emotional day,” Brandon said. “It now stops and starts, those final decisions, with me.”

It’s a big deal in many respects; in others, not so much. Throughout his 53-year history as Buffalo’s owner, Wilson has been the guiding voice of the franchise. But with Wilson getting up there in age he’s spent very little time at the team facility over the past few years and has communicated with Brandon and GM Buddy Nix via phone.

“Mr. Wilson isn’t traveling as much on a weekly basis over here as he has in the past,” Brandon said. “I think when he looked at it from a day-to-day operation, it’s difficult to manage from afar. And he was very clear to me yesterday that it is now [my] responsibility moving forward.”

For all the talk of change, even Brandon admitted at one point that not all that much will be different moving forward:

“Buddy will have the autonomy to run the football operation moving forward as he has for the last three years. There’s really no difference -- the only difference is, [Nix] reports to me. That’s really the only difference.”

Russ Brandon is in full control

Brandon, 45, already had a significant say in the direction of the franchise as the team’s CEO, but it’s now his show as the team’s president. He’s the first man other than Wilson to serve as president since GM Tom Donahoe (2001-05).

Brandon made it clear that he now has final say over everything -- and he sounds eager to increase his influence on the franchise.

“[Mr. Wilson] told me he was passing the torch to me to run this franchise in totality,” Brandon said. “He has granted me full authority to run this franchise with zero restrictions and zero limitations. ... I’m in a position where I get to evaluate every single thing we do in this organization and if I don’t like it, we’re going to change it.”

Other than that, the front office will stay the same ... for now

After the firing of coach Chan Gailey on Monday, it was thought that Nix could be the next one out. That didn’t turn out to be the case, and Nix has been retained by Brandon.

There was plenty of speculation regarding a potential new succession plan with GM-in-waiting Doug Whaley -- who is currently Buffalo’s assistant general manager -- but the Bills aren’t coming forth and discussing that publicly and were a bit vague when pressed on the issue during the press conference.

Whether or not there’s a specific timetable in place, Whaley is still the successor to the 73-year-old Nix whenever Nix decides to hang it up. That’s the same as it was before Tuesday.

It is very possible, however, that Nix could retire sooner rather than later, in which case Whaley would become the new GM.

For more updates on the Bills, follow correspondent Mark Ludwiczak on Twitter@CBSBills and @MarkLud12.