Archives for February 2014

‘It’s the latest move to a Bills defensive staff that’s been in flux under newly hired coordinator Jim Schwartz. The former Detroit Lions head coach was hired by the Bills two weeks ago to replace Mike Pettine, who left after one season to take over as coach of the Cleveland Browns.’

‘Before coming to Buffalo, Rebrovich spent 2011-12 at Syracuse as a defensive assistant under head coach Doug Marrone. From 2008-10, he was the defensive coordinator at Cortland State. He started his coaching career at his alma mater of Cortland State as the team’s defensive line and strength coach from 2001-03.’

‘Rebrovich will enter his second year with the Bills in 2014 after spending last season as a defensive quality control coach. In his new role, Rebrovich will work in conjunction with Bills’ defensive line coach Pepper Johnson.’

‘Moore’s hiring is the last major position Marrone had to fill on his 17-coach staff. There have been six changes to the staff since the end of 2013, the most notable being Jim Schwartz replacing Mike Pettine at defensive coordinator after Pettine was hired as head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Pettine took defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, linebackers coach Jim O’Neil and defensive quality control coach Brian Fleury with him to the Browns.’

’54 seats occupied in 2013; 58 vacant.’

‘Moore and defensive line coach Tim Daoust were the only two coaching holdovers from Doug Marrone’s staff after Marrone left to coach the Buffalo Bills. Moore recently helped develop former All-Big East receiver Alec Lemon and Marcus Sales. Lemon owns SU’s career and single-season receptions records with 201 career catches and 72 in 2012, and he ranks second on the school’s all-time receiving list with 2,596 yards.’

“The thing I tell kids all the time, take those kids that leave New York City and really, really evaluate how well they do,” Moore told Syracuse.com. “It isn’t very good, I can tell you that.”‘

‘Moore will be responsible for overseeing a young group of receivers that featured two rookies last season.’

‘Like Marrone, Moore is a graduate of Syracuse and enjoyed a career in the National Football League. The former wide receiver was a first round pick by the New York Jets in the 1990 Supplemental Draft and stayed with them for five seasons. He spent the final seven years of his career playing for the Arizona Cardinals.’

‘During his time coaching the Orange, Moore helped lead his alma mater to three bowl victories. Under Moore’s tutelage, WR Alec Lemon finished his career ranked first in the Orange record books for all-time receptions (201) and second in all-time receiving yards (1,780).’

‘Only two people took in the Nov. 3 game against the Kansas City Chiefs from the suite, including Norm Page, who represents USA Hockey’s sled hockey program. For the Nov. 17 game with the New York Jets and Dec. 22 game against the Miami Dolphins, the luxury box was empty, according to the report.’

‘The common belief is that Johnson felt spurned in 2012 when Belichick promoted the younger and less experienced Matt Patricia to defensive coordinator. Because Patricia’s name has yet to surface in head coaching searches, Johnson likely didn’t foresee any imminent chances to climb the ladder, so he searched elsewhere for growth. He told WGR he hoped to eventually become a defensive coordinator.’

‘”It’s very satisfying to see him get in the Hall of Fame, only he should have been in a year or two earlier,” Dubenion said Tuesday from his home in Westerville, Ohio. “I think it was well deserved. He was a great player, great kid. He was everything you wanted in a player.”‘

‘In dismissing a suit by Dave Hojnowski, the Bills’ former equipment manager, Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny said Hojnowski’s contract with the team requires that his legal dispute be handled in arbitration.’

‘I first met his parents, Joyce and Calvin Reed, at their Allentown home when the family was working to help disadvantaged families in the Lehigh Valley around the time of that first Buffalo Super Bowl in 1991. It’s sad that Calvin did not live to enjoy Saturday’s announcement; he died in 1996.’