Hot Stove Night moved to Feb. 2
Zone Radio’s 12th annual Hot Stove Night featuring Boston Red Sox radio announcers Joe Castiglione and Dave O’Brien scheduled for Tuesday has been moved to Monday, Feb. 2 due to the snowstorm.
It will be held at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show gets underway at 6:30 with Maine comedian Bob Marley opening for Castiglione and O’Brien.
Poll: 47 percent believe Patriots cheat
Nearly half of those responding to a national survey believe the Super Bowl-bound New England Patriots, engulfed in controversy over the so-called “Deflategate” scandal, are cheaters.
However, those polled over the weekend by the Emerson College Polling Society found 57 percent believe the incident is no big deal.
While 47 percent of respondents in the poll thought the Patriots are cheaters, only 28 percent believe Patriots head coach Bill Belichick should be suspended for the Super Bowl.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady fared better, with only 25 percent saying Tom Brady should be suspended.
Services for Banks set this weekend
A public visitation and a memorial service for Chicago Cubs legend Ernie Banks will be held Friday and Saturday in Chicago, the Cubs announced Monday.
The public visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. Friday at Fourth Presbyterian Church on East Chestnut Street.
The memorial service will be at the same church, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. Limited public seating is available, the team said.
Banks, a Hall of Famer known as “Mr. Cub,” died after suffering a heart attack Friday night, his family said. He was 83.
Banks played all 19 seasons of his major league career in Chicago. He won the National League MVP Award in 1958 and 1959.
Woodson re-signs with Raiders
Charles Woodson will return for his 18th NFL season.
The Oakland Raiders re-signed the 38-year-old safety to a one-year deal on Monday.
Woodson led the Raiders with a career-high 112 tackles and four interceptions in 2014. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate.
Woodson began his career with the Raiders as the fourth overall pick in the 1998 draft. After eight seasons there, he played seven in Green Bay.
The eight-time Pro Bowl player has 60 interceptions, second among active players.
Ryan adds six to Bills’ staff
The Buffalo Bills officially announced the hiring of six coaches to Rex Ryan’s staff: Michael Hamlin (special teams quality control), Aaron Kromer (offensive line), Sanjay Lal (wide receivers), Anthony Lynn (assistant head coach/running backs), D’Anton Lynn (defensive assistant) and Chris Palmer (senior offensive assistant).
Kromer spent the past two years as the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator, and came under fire after admitting he was the source of criticism toward quarterback Jay Cutler.
The Bills also announced that Kurt Anderson (assistant offensive line), Donnie Henderson (defensive backs), Jason Rebrovich (outside linebackers) and Jason Vrable (offensive quality control) will be retained.
Broncos hire Dennison as coordinator
The Denver Broncos agreed to terms with Rick Dennison to be their offensive coordinator on Monday, and also announced the hiring of linebackers coach Reggie Herring and offensive line coach Clancy Barone.
Dennison is a 20-year NFL coaching veteran with 15 years of experience with the Broncos, including three seasons (2006-08) as Denver’s offensive coordinator.
A linebacker for the Broncos from 1982-90, Dennison began his coaching tenure with the club in 1995 and held various roles with the team, including offensive assistant (1995-96), special teams coordinator (1997-2000) and offensive line coach (2001-05, 2009) in addition to his three years as offensive coordinator.
Dennison spent four years (2010-13) as new head coach Gary Kubiak’s offensive coordinator in Houston before being hired in Baltimore last season to coach the team’s quarterbacks.
Rams will interview Hackett again
The St. Louis Rams will interview Nathaniel Hackett a second time for their offensive coordinator position, according to several reports.
Hackett, who was the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator for the past two seasons under Doug Marrone, interviewed with the Rams last Thursday and is expected to interview again Tuesday.
Morris accepts job with Falcons
Washington Redskins secondary coach Raheem Morris accepted a position with the Atlanta Falcons as assistant head coach in charge of defensive backs, according to reports Monday.
Morris has spent the past three years with Washington.