Doug Marrone's reputation has taken a major hit publicly since he left Buffalo. And the barbs just keep on coming.
During a local ESPN radio interview Monday, former Syracuse assistant coach Bob Casullo called out Marrone as being "self-centered, selfish and greedy.''
"I've told you guys this all along,'' Casullo said, reiterating his dislike of Marrone. "When he takes a job, he already has his plan in place for his next job.''
On New Year's Eve, Marrone took advantage of a three-day opt-out clause in his contract with the Bills and left the organization after two seasons. He's emerged as one of the top head-coaching candidates and is considered a frontrunner to replace Rex Ryan as the Jets' coach.
But in the aftermath of Marrone's decision to leave the Bills, word of his controlling ways has filtered down from Central New York. And Casullo only added to that perception.
"It's coming out now, and I don't want to say I told you so,'' said Casullo, who also was the Jets' tight ends coach in 2004 during Marrone's stint as their offensive line coach. "I just sit here and mind my own business and move on.
" . . . He'll get a job because there's not enough qualified people with head-coaching experience to get these jobs. There are about nine or 10 guys out there that should be getting these jobs, and you're reshuffling an egomaniac, less-than-.500 coach.''
Casullo added that Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson are "capable'' head-coaching candidates.
Casullo, 63, was an assistant coach with Marrone at Georgia Tech in the 1990s and the two later worked together at Syracuse. Marrone took over as head coach in 2009.
But a week before the team's final game of the 2010 season, he announced that he and Casullo had "decided it's in the best interest of the program to part ways.''
Marrone did not give a specific reason for Casullo's departure. And it doesn't appear as though any love is lost between the pair.
"Whoever gave him that three-day opt-out clause -- his agent is a genius and the person that signed it for the Buffalo Bills is a complete idiot,'' said Casullo, referring to the fact that Marrone will pocket $4 million from the Bills on top of the salary he'll receive from the next team that hires him.
Marrone, who was 25-25 for Syracuse, went 15-17 in two years with the Bills. Their 9-7 finish this past season was their best since 2004.
According to The Buffalo News, a few factors contributed to his decision to leave the Bills. The biggest one was the uncertainty surrounding the team's football operations with new owners Terry and Kim Pegula. But Marrone's relationship with the media also was a key issue. He reportedly was "upset'' with what he deemed "constant criticism and a general lack of support'' by local writers.