Archives for January 2014

‘Bruce Smith, the all-time National Football League sack leader who played a combined 19 seasons with the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins before retiring in 2003, concedes in the ad: “I disappointed myself and those close to me.”‘

‘With his clean-shaven head and no-nonsense approach, Pettine is popular with players.’

‘”When you look at the other attractive parts of the job, it was a young roster, plenty of cap space, a deep draft, plenty of picks,” Pettine said. “I’ll always take the cockiness of a coach, but I’ll bet on myself.”‘

‘”It was my lifelong dream to be an NFL coach. To compete in the AFC North, you have to bloody your nose a little bit. I believe you fit your system to your players,” Pettine said. “There’s talent here, and that’s evidenced by the number of guys over in Hawaii as we speak.”‘

‘During his season in Buffalo, Pettine implemented a defense that set a franchise record with 57 sacks, second-most in the NFL in 2013 after finishing tied for 18th in the league with 36 in 2012.’

‘The franchise has held firm that they had a plan in place to replace Pettine if he indeed left to be the Browns next head coach. Since it has happened, that strategy must be put in action.’

‘”That was starting to wear on me these last couple of days,” Buffalo’s former defensive coordinator said. “I talked to Doug [Marrone] and it was getting to the point where I’d say, ‘Hey, if this goes on much longer I need to pull out because it’s just not fair to the Bills.'”‘

‘Buffalo’s defensive players were disappointed to see Pettine leave the staff, but understand the opportunity he has in front of him. “I really hate to see him leave,” Marcell Dareus told Buffalobills.com. “At the same time it’s a business and football is football and we’ve got to just go out there and play.”‘

‘”Your call is very important to us; please continue to hold.”‘

‘Wednesday afternoon, Pettine told cleveland.com he was hoping to get “some feedback” from the Browns by Wednesday night on his second interview, a four-hour session at the Senior Bowl Tuesday night. The Bills were also getting anxious to know if they have to replace their defensive coordinator.’

‘”I’ll say this on the Cleveland Browns. Expect the unexpected,” Schefter said Wednesday on ESPN radio. “… They’re hopping around. They’re interviewing other candidates. They’re bouncing around the country. If you think it’s going to be Mike Pettine, if you think it’s going to be Dirk Koetter, get ready for that curveball.”‘

‘But with important interviews reportedly coming today, the question remains whether Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn remains in the running.’

‘The meandering search has received the most criticism.’

‘ou were diagnosed with cancer of the jaw last year. How’s your health? So far so good. The cancer has not come back. In the last two years I’ve had major back surgery, neck surgery, double hernia surgery and four jaw surgeries. I feel like the Six Million Dollar Man and change.’

‘Cleveland is the only team without a head coach, and owner Jimmy Haslam said last week the team is “prepared to wait as long as necessary” to hire one.’