Watch over: Kiffin out as Raiders coach

By The Associated Press

Tuesday, September 30, 2008 11:31 PM EDT

ALAMEDA, Calif. - When Al Davis finally broke his silence about Lane Kiffin on the day he fired his coach, he had plenty to say in response to the one-sided verbal attack Kiffin had been launching at the organization for months.
Davis detailed acts of what he called insubordination by Kiffin, read a warning letter he gave his coach more than two weeks ago and said he made the decision to fire Kiffin on Tuesday because the coach was “a flat-out liar.”

“I just couldn't go on much longer with what I would call the propaganda, the lying that had been going on for weeks and months and a year and time,” Davis said in his first news conference in nearly 14 months.

Kiffin had a 5-15 record since being hired last year, losing his final game 28-18 on Sunday to San Diego.

Offensive line coach Tom Cable will take over on an interim basis. The team has a bye this week before Cable coaches his first game at New Orleans on Oct. 12.

The decision to remove Kiffin was more about his frequent criticisms of Davis' franchise as it was the team's performance on the field.

Those critiques reached a peak when Kiffin distanced himself from the defense after a blowout loss in the season opener, saying that was under coordinator Rob Ryan and Davis' control.

But Davis also took shots at Kiffin's coaching ability, questioning his in-game strategies and several of his coaching and personnel decisions. Among other things, he said Kiffin objected to the Raiders using the first pick in the 2007 draft on quarterback JaMarcus Russell and insisted on Randy Moss being traded before last season.

The Raiders said Kiffin was fired for cause, meaning they will likely try not to pay him for the remainder of his contract. He signed a three-year deal worth about $6 million when he took over last year.

Kiffin's agent Gary Uberstine had no comment and said he advised his client not to hold a news conference on Wednesday.

Kiffin instead will make his case directly to the commissioner in a grievance.

Kiffin told ESPN he was “embarrassed” for Davis while watching the news conference.

“It was very painful for myself and my family,” he said. “A lot of accusations being made there, a lot of information being put up there, a number of lies. It was very hurtful and it was tough to stomach.”

The 79-year-old Davis was front and center for more than 90 minutes, sharing the stage with Cable for some of that time and then sticking around The Associated Press

ALAMEDA, Calif. - When Al Davis finally broke his silence about Lane Kiffin on the day he fired his coach, he had plenty to say in response to the one-sided verbal attack Kiffin had been launching at the organization for months.

Davis detailed acts of what he called insubordination by Kiffin, read a warning letter he gave his coach more than two weeks ago and said he made the decision to fire Kiffin on Tuesday because the coach was “a flat-out liar.”

“I just couldn't go on much longer with what I would call the propaganda, the lying that had been going on for weeks and months and a year and time,” Davis said in his first news conference in nearly 14 months.

Kiffin had a 5-15 record since being hired last year, losing his final game 28-18 on Sunday to San Diego.

Offensive line coach Tom Cable will take over on an interim basis. The team has a bye this week before Cable coaches his first game at New Orleans on Oct. 12.

The decision to remove Kiffin was more about his frequent criticisms of Davis' franchise as it was the team's performance on the field.

Those critiques reached a peak when Kiffin distanced himself from the defense after a blowout loss in the season opener, saying that was under coordinator Rob Ryan and Davis' control.

But Davis also took shots at Kiffin's coaching ability, questioning his in-game strategies and several of his coaching and personnel decisions. Among other things, he said Kiffin objected to the Raiders using the first pick in the 2007 draft on quarterback JaMarcus Russell and insisted on Randy Moss being traded before last season.

The Raiders said Kiffin was fired for cause, meaning they will likely try not to pay him for the remainder of his contract. He signed a three-year deal worth about $6 million when he took over last year.

Kiffin's agent Gary Uberstine had no comment and said he advised his client not to hold a news conference on Wednesday.

Kiffin instead will make his case directly to the commissioner in a grievance.

Kiffin told ESPN he was “embarrassed” for Davis while watching the news conference.

“It was very painful for myself and my family,” he said. “A lot of accusations being made there, a lot of information being put up there, a number of lies. It was very hurtful and it was tough to stomach.”

The 79-year-old Davis was front and center for more than 90 minutes, sharing the stage with Cable for some of that time and then sticking around

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