Report: Al Davis finally ready to fire Kiffin
Sports Network | September 30, 2008
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis is reportedly prepared to fire second-year head coach Lane Kiffin on Tuesday.
According to the Oakland Tribune, Davis was interviewing candidates to replace Kiffin Monday night.
Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, offensive line coach Tom Cable and Paul Hackett, a scout with the organization and former offensive coordinator, were believed to be interviewed.
Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and wide receivers coach James Lofton have interviewed for the Raiders coaching vacancy in the past and are also believed to be candidates. The Tribune also reports that running backs coach Tom Rathman is a dark horse for the job based on a strong relationship with Davis.
Davis has been contemplating moving on from Kiffin since the offseason when he reportedly prepared a resignation letter for Kiffin to sign, but the coach refused.
Reports then surfaced that Kiffin was gone after the Raiders suffered an embarrassing season-opening 41-14 drubbing at the hands of division-rival Denver.
But, Oakland rebounded with an impressive 23-8 win at Kansas City in Week 2, giving Kiffin a reprieve. Consecutive losses to the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers dropped the Raiders to 1-3 and put Kiffin back on the hot seat.
Kiffin guided the Raiders to a 4-12 mark in his first season with the club in 2007.
Prior to leading the Raiders, Kiffin, the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, was an offensive coach under head coach Pete Carroll at USC from 2001 to 2006, with the last two seasons spent as the offensive coordinator for the Trojans.
