Raiders distance themselves from Tom Cable's situation

November 2, 5:04 PMOakland Raiders ExaminerPatrick Patterson

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Tom Cable escaped charges from the Napa county district attorney after his alleged altercation with assistant coach Randy Hanson. However, there are now more questions swirling around him than ever. ESPN recently broke allegations that he had a history of violence against women.

Not many smiles ahead for Tom Cable if this doesn't clear up
(AP PHOTO/ Paul Sakuma)

Cable refused to answer any questions regarding those allegations His wall of silence aided in his avoiding charges stemming from the incident in Napa, but wit these latest allegations don't carry any penalties outside the court of public opinion

In a prepared press release, Cable stated that the only time he struck a woman was an open handed slap after he discovered she had cheated on him. He also stated that he has felt sorrow and regret ever since. Discovering that a significant other has been cheating is a trying time, and it could be understood if not excused that he went all Bobby Brown on her. His ex wife denies that she had an affair and contradicted Cable's story.

The problem is that the court of public opinion doesn't allow for the fifth amendment protection against compulsory self-testimony. It is also quick to hop on allegations, especially when it comes to domestic violence against women. It really doesn't help Cable at all that it came on the heels of the Hanson incident, where the tide of public opinion already had him tried and convicted.

Like it or not, it doesn't help matters for him that his team is 2-6. Neither the team, nor the fans are going to be particularly thrilled about supporting a coach with off field baggage if they are not making up for it with wins. Cable is 6-14 as a Raider coach which is a record that can get the bums' rush from Al Davis even for someone who has an impeccable resume off the field.

This puts Cable behind the eight-ball for two reasons. For one, his team is losing. Al Davis is famously loyal to those around him, as long as they win. Last year he fired Lane Kiffin "with cause," for reasons that did not nearly rise to the level of the issues now surrounding Cable. Davis now has all the cause he could want to release Cable and not pay the remainder on his contract. In a cryptically worded press release, the Raiders begun distancing themselves from their coach.

Over the last few days, we learned of the allegations made against Coach Cable and we are, of course, aware of his response thereto. In conjunction with the League office, we will undertake a serious evaluation of this matter.
We wish to be clear that we do not in any way condone or accept actions such as those alleged.
There have been occasions on which we have dismissed Raider employees for having engaged in inappropriate conduct. For reasons of privacy, we kept the basis for those dismissals confidential. We endured public opprobrium for the dismissals, all the while knowing our basis for them was appropriate.

Kiffin received his warning via FexEx and wasn't shared with the world until Davis broke out his overhead projector during the press conference to announce the firing and ascension of Cable. However, this easily serves as a message loud and clear to Cable that they have the goods to let him go whenever they feel like it.

It also serves as a public relations statement from a team that needs good press. They are distancing themselves from their alleged wife-beater coach and they are also condemning the act of wife beating, which is an easy way to score some points with the public.

The Raiders also used the situation to take a shot at their favorite target in the media: ESPN.

ESPN’s role in this matter must be carefully examined. ESPN routinely disseminates falsehoods about the Raiders. During the last year, ESPN (working with someone who was in this organization) engaged in a calculated effort to distort the truth about the Raiders, utilizing lies and innuendo.

Apparently, the Raiders are taking the situation seriously enough to give lip service to investigation, but they also have to take a shot at the messenger. After a similar shot taken at Adam Schefter then of the NFL Network in 2006, he said "Typical Raiders, always going after the messenger."

The Raiders are distancing themselves from a coach who will likely be jettisoned at the end of the year anyway. They are hoping to deflect criticism that normally is aimed at the front office, as they can throw up their hands and say they didn't know he was 'like that.' Meanwhile, Cable can say, "I think my future is to be the coach of the Raiders," but he has to feel that vortex pulling at him. As the losses add up and the stories swirl, inevitability will set in.

For more info: Check out  RaiderNews.com for the latest on the Oakland Raiders.

You can also find Patrick Patterson on Thoughts from the Dark Side.