Archives for January 7, 2013

‘The important thing is finding a coach willing to tackle the job, shortcomings notwithstanding. Clearly the Bills feel they’ve found that guy. But here’s hoping Marrone knows what he’s getting into.’

‘The Buffalo Bills will hold a press conference at approximately Noon today in the Bills Media Room in Orchard Park, NY.’

‘”Eighty percent is a good number,” Jackson told Buffalobills.com. “That was probably the best I felt all year was 80 percent healthy.”‘

‘While Marrone didn’t create the same splash as other candidates would have, news of his hiring was well-received in the NFL community. Marrone is viewed as a solid and respectable choice for a woebegone franchise that was last competitive when cell phones had antennas.’

‘This is a bold pick, a risky pick. Brandon, a fine baseball player in his day, is swinging for the fences here. Give him credit for that. It would have been easier to settle for the stand-up double, a former NFL head coach with an established record for being average.’

‘Around 8:15 p.m., ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported the deal would be four years in length, but again, there was nothing official from the Bills or Marrone’s agent, Jimmy Sexton.’

‘”Another hire on the cheap by our old, cheap owner,” Jason Woloszyn, a former Dunkirk resident now living in Charlotte, N.C. said. “It’s more of a marketing ploy than anything by their newly-appointed team president, who just happens to have been in marketing his whole career. Now they can use their regionalization idea to try and work their way into the Syracuse area.”‘

‘Buffalo called my agent (Abu Toppin) first. My agent called me. As soon as I saw my agent’s name come up on my phone I kind of knew it was something that was pretty good for me. I answered and he was all excited, and I was excited. He called me and said we’ve got some really good news. Buffalo would like to bring you back in, as long as you pass the physical, and they’ll sign you to the practice squad. About a half hour later a guy from the Bills called me. It was Monday morning, and I was actually working for UPS, I was on a UPS truck. I stayed home for Christmas Tuesday, and I had to be up there at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning, the day after Christmas. I had to do a physical real quick. They just put me through a couple of drills, nothing too extensive, just to see how I was moving. Then shortly after that they said yeah he looks good. That’s when I signed. I had to sign before I could go into any team meetings, or anything like that.’

‘From a personnel perspective, this is good news for guys like C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. Syracuse didn’t shy away from running the football. Jerome Smith and Prince-Tyson Gulley both had great seasons. Under Marrone, the Bills won’t ignore Jackson and Spiller. Former coach Chan Gailey was criticized for not using his running backs enough. Marrone won’t make that mistake. They will be a key part of the game plan.’

‘At Syracuse, reports said Marrone ran an NFL-style offence his first three years, before he and offensive coordinator Nathaniel (Nate) Hackett incorporated a more up-tempo college-style attack this past season.’

‘Maybe this year’s crop of quarterbacking prospects aren’t as good as the Class of 2012, but that’s not to say you can’t find a kid that might develop into something special. Shouldn’t Wilson be the poster child for that?’

‘”He’s a very hands-on coach, and good with the fundamentals and techniques,” said Edwards, 58, who coached the Kansas City Chiefs from 2006-08 after the Jets. “He’s disciplined. And he’s very competitive. Now, sometimes on the sidelines he doesn’t look like it. He’s not going to get overly dramatic. But his teams will be well-prepared. “If you look at what he’s done at Syracuse, obviously he’s taken that team and turned it around. They’ve become very competitive again.”‘

‘The Bills will get crushed by some corners of their fan base for this hire. But in their defense, they swung and missed the last two times they hired retread coaches in Chan Gailey and Dick Jauron, and there would have been grousing about hiring someone else’s throwaway had they gone with Reid, Smith or Whisenhunt.’

Doug Marrone reportedly leaving Syracuse after going 25-25 in four seasons (Syracuse Post Standard)

Bills likely hoping Doug Marrone continues current trend of success for college coaches (Syracuse Post Standard)

At least one Syracuse football recruit could be rethinking his commitment (Syracuse Post Standard)

Twitter reacts to Doug Marrone leaving Syracuse to coach Buffalo Bills (Syracuse Post Standard)

Doug Marrone’s decision to leave Syracuse football behind is wise but unsettling (Syracuse Post Standard)

As Doug Marrone shuffles off to Buffalo more and more people who matter weigh in on the news (Syracuse Post Standard)

Buffalo Bills confirm hiring Syracuse’s Doug Marrone (WTVH-TV)

Difficult decision for Doug Marrone to leave Syracuse (WTVH-TV)

SU fans call Marrone’s departure ‘bittersweet’ (WTVH-TV)

‘He has NFL experience as both a player and a coach. Marrone was drafted in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Raiders, then played a season each with the Miami Dolphins (1987) and the New Orleans Saints (1989).’