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Then, as players hit the field, we got our first look at the open QB competition - beginning to see if rookie EJ Manuel can fend off veterans Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson. Bills players got to work on the field with their new, interactive coaching staff for the first time as a full unit.

And then on Thursday, the youth movement continued in the front office - as 40-year-old Doug Whaley officially took over. Now he's been familiar with Team President Russ Brandon years - since crossing paths at a Stanford University business program in 2006.

"We worked hand-in-hand and sat right next to each other in the classroom for 10 days and worked on the NFL program that was instituted back then," Brandon said. "Doug has every quality you look for in a leader. He has great work ethic, he is tireless at work, he is one of the most humble guys I have ever met and everything is about us. It is about us."

"Working with Russ you could tell he had leadership qualities but he knew how to delegate and empower people," Whaley said. "That is what he has been preaching ever since I have known him."

It came as little surprise on Thursday when the Bills officially named Doug Whaley as the successor to Buddy Nix as general manager. YNN's Andy Young was at the news conference where Whaley was introduced as the 12th GM in club history.

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"It is not about me. It is about us and it is about this organization. From Russ (Brandon) instilling in the organization that this is a shared common goal to put this organization back where it is supposed to be, us competing consistently for championships-I buy into it and that is my philosophy. That is why I think we will all work well together, said Whaley"

"He has been in the trenches. He has been scouting his entire career on the pro and the college side. I have never heard an individual in this league say one negative word about Doug Whaley. He is the perfect guy to lead this organization and lead our football operation. I do not know of a guy that is more deserving of this opportunity than Doug Whaley," said Bills President/CEO Russ Brandon.

Before joining the Bills in 2010, Whaley rose through the ranks of the scouting department of the Pittsburgh Steelers. That's an organization that carries with it a tradition of winning Super Bowls. Whaley hopes to impart a similar mentality and approach as the GM of the Buffalo Bills.

"They don’t accept losing. They set the standard of winning and competing for championships. And I think if we instill that here we’ll be in the right direction," Whaley said.

In an offseason overhaul that saw the Bills name a new president, a new head coach, and now a new general manager - the most important change is still an unknown - that's on the field and whether Russ Brandon, Doug Whaley and Doug Marrone can turn this team into a true championship contender.

One of the first big items on Whaley's plate is dealing with Jairus Byrd's contract situation. The two-time Pro Bowl safety has not signed his one year franchise tag and has not been present at any of the Bills offseason workouts so far.

"Well first of all, we recognize Jairus is a good player and we’re in the business of collecting good players. We’re going to continue the negotiation process, but we will also continue not negotiating in the press," said Whaley.

The new general manager added to his staff on Thursday. Jim Monos takes over as Director of Player Personnel. Monos joins the Bills after spending eight years as a scout with the Saints. Kelvin Fisher now becomes the team's Director of College Scouting. Fisher spent 13 years in the Steelers organization.

The players were busy getting acquainted with the new coaching staff under head coach Doug Marrone. There's a noticeable change in the energy and intensity at practice. That led defensive end Mario Williams to say there's a new definition of what it means to play like a Buffalo Bill.

"It’s just being relentless and the mentality of going out, being disruptive and attacking. Being aggressive. Being accountable," said Williams. "Just going out here and making plays. Trusting the scheme. Trusting the system. Trusting the coaches."

Bills top wide receiver Stevie Johnson has been held out of OTA's due to a lower back strain. Johnson says it's not serious, but the real issue is that he's missing time developing chemistry with the new quarterbacks - Kevin Kolb, Tarvaris Jackson, EJ Manuel - who are competing for the starting job.

"That's one of the frustrating things that I'm going through right now in my mind because I'm not out here," said Johnson. "But I know we got training camp and I'll definitely get on point where I need to be. It'll be easy. It's just frustrating as far as me not being out there. But with the three quarterbacks, that's a good position for us. We got three guys that can go."

Another draft pick has signed with the Bills. Kiko Alonso has agreed to terms with the team. The linebacker out of Oregon was selected in the 2nd round. With the Ducks, Alonso registered 143 tackles, six interceptions and 3.5 sacks. Manuel and wide receiver Robert Woods are the only draft picks that remain unsigned.

With Bills veterans joining the rookies for OTA's this week, the quarterback competition is officially underway. YNN's Andy Young has more on the opening stages of the battle for the starting job in Orchard Park.

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All the pieces are now in place and the fight to find the opening day starter takes to the turf at One Bills Drive.

It's likely a three-man race. First, there's EJ Manuel, the 1st round draft pick and the Bills hopeful quarterback of the future, who's still getting used to life in the NFL.

"It was an adjustment because I'm like, wow, this is an actual locker room with grown men with families. You see guys with pictures, they got kids and stuff, so it is an adjustment. But obviously, you're in the NFL now, you have to treat yourself like a professional and just try to learn from these veterans," said the first-round pick from Florida State.

Those veterans being Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson, who both have one obvious advantage over Manuel, and that's experience, and experience in competing to be a starting signal caller.

"I knew that was in the plans. It doesn’t scare me or concern me. It’s just part of the job and you move on. Like I told you before, it’s all about competition and competing against everybody, but he seems like a great kid and I’m happy to work with him," Kolb said.

"If you can just tune it out and the other guy might do something right and the other guy might do something wrong. You want to learn from his mistake and learn from what he does right. You just try to add it to your game," said Jackson.

Through the first two days OTAs, Kolb and Jackson have received more reps than Manuel in practice, but Marrone says he hopes to make it equal once the rookie gets up to speed.

In the meantime, Manuel is just trying to soak up all he can from the veterans.

"I think for me, I watch those guys all the time. Whether it’s in the film room or warming up out here on the field, seeing what they do throughout the practices, seeing how they talk to the teammates, direct guys out there on the field. They obviously help when I ask questions, but probably the biggest thing is leading by example," Manuel said.

Doug Marrone declined to give a time frame for when the Bills would like a decision on the Bills starting QB, saying it's ultimately up to the players to determine how long the quarterback competition lasts. It's certainly something we'll be talking about for the next several months leading up to the season.