Now that the Oakland Raiders are all but mathematically eliminated from the NFL playoffs, the coaching staff power grabs and jockeyings for next season's positions are underway.
At least, that's what a Sunday night report from Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole says, in the wake of the Raiders' 38-31 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"In the backdrop of this season for the Raiders has been tension," Cole writes. "Head coach Tom Cable was angered when owner Al Davis brought in Hue Jackson to be the offensive coordinator in January, according to a team source."
"Since then, people close to Jackson have privately accused Cable of trying to undercut the coordinator," Cole continues.
Something tells me Mr. Cole's sources for this story are allies of Team Hue Jackson.
"Jackson has been so unhappy with the situation that associates have been pushing him for a number of openings in the pro and college ranks, including for the University of Miami job," the report says.
Well, the University of Miami job has already gone to Al Golden, but the larger point perhaps remain valid.
Sports
Cable openly complained about the Raiders' play-calling in his post-game remarks Sunday. When asked about the Raiders' play selection, Cable said, "I don’t know. That is not for me to decide right now."
It has been speculated all season -- though no one has actually put the question to Al Davis -- that Mr. Davis is grooming Hue Jackson for the Raiders' head coaching job should they fall to an eighth consecutive losing season under Cable.
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who just found a great new batch of Metrdome roof collapse porn.
