Bills GM Buddy Nix: 'It's time' for team to step up

Buddy Nix is known for being forthright, and Tuesday was no exception.

As the Bills began trickling in to St. John Fisher College for the start of training camp, Buffalo’s general manager came right out and acknowledged the obvious -- it’s time for his team to get some results.

“We’ve got to step up,” Nix said. “It’s time.”

The Bills have been largely considered an afterthought in recent years, which is understandable when you consider their lack of success. Buffalo has the longest playoff drought in the NFL, having last made the playoffs in 1999.

Things changed this offseason, however, when the Bills stepped up to the plate and gave Mario Williams the largest contract for a defensive player in NFL history. They also signed another top pass rusher in Mark Anderson, added insurance at QB with Vince Young and re-signed key offensive performers in Stevie Johnson and Fred Jackson.

As a result, expectations have soared among both analysts and Bills fans -- which is fine with Nix.

“We’re realistic enough to know that the first year or two we didn’t have enough depth and enough playmakers to make a difference and probably contend all the way through the year,” Nix said. “But I think the feeling is different now ... It’s time to close it out and win some games and until we do, it’s not complete.”

In other team news, Nix revealed that the Bills may look to the waiver wire to improve their depth at safety. The GM likes Buffalo’s top three players on the depth chart -- Jairus Byrd, George Wilson and Da’Norris Searcy -- but the Bills have no veteran experience behind them.

“I’m a little concerned ... we’ve got three guys, and we’d like to have four there that can play,” Nix said.

Center Eric Wood (knee) expects to practice in some capacity when camp begins on Thursday, but he also added that the trainers’ plan is to take it “slow and steady.” Wood is making his way back from a torn ACL in his right knee.

Reserve tight end Mike Caussin (knee) will begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, Nix said. Caussin tore his ACL in his right knee in Week 16 last year.

The Bills have a closed conditioning workout on Wednesday before camp officially opens with a Thursday afternoon practice.