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In many ways, the coaching fraternity is kind of like a lunchroom at any American middle school.

Actually there is probably way more gossip, rumors and bullying than would ever be tolerated in any American middle school.

That’s why it was almost refreshing to hear one of Doug Marrone’s old assistant coaches rip him in a non-passive-aggressive way yesterday.

“Self-centered, selfish, greedy,” former Syracuse assistant head coach Bob Casullo said of Marrone on ESPN Syracuse, via the New York Daily News. “You’re re-shuffling an egomaniac, less than .500 coach.”

OK, so tell us how you really feel about the former Bills coach, now a candidate with the Jets and Falcons.

Casullo and Marrone worked together with the Jets in 2004, and Casullo was Marrone’s assistant head coach at Syracuse for two years, minus one game since Casullo was fired late in 2010.

So there’s obviously some sour grapes there on Casullo’s part, but it’s still fascinating to hear such an overt hammering.

“When he takes a job, he already has his plan in place for his next job,” Casullo said.

Of course, that doesn’t make Marrone unusual in coaching circles, it just makes him the one in the market now, getting trashed by a former co-worker.