Lane Kiffin to .. possibly be fired tonight?

[DeToxRox]

It continues! I feel so bad for this guy.

From PFT, per ESPN



The firing of Lane Kiffin could finally, mercifully, be near.

John Clayton of ESPN reports that Raiders owner Al Davis is having individual meetings this evening with three Raiders assistant coaches: Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, offensive line coach Tom Cable and special projects assistant Paul Hackett. The meetings are seen as a precursor to Kiffin’s dismissal.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that Kiffin said Davis hadn’t told him about the meetings.

It seems like we’ve been hearing forever that the firing of Kiffin is imminent. Maybe the news that Davis is meeting with members of Kiffin’s staff — without Kiffin’s knowledge — is a sign that he really is about to be fired.

[Passacaglia]

Is he the first casualty of the bailout failing?

[DeToxRox]

LOL Yes.

Rumor is PAUL HACKETT would take over. That's hilarious.

[Lathum]

The Rams should scoop him right up as their head coach.

[Rich1033]

I think he will be relieved to finally be out of that mess.

[MrDNA]

I think I would just resign in that position. Having a boss that micromanages YOUR job and dangles the threat of firing you at every opportunity while stabbing you in the back? I bet they have GREAT Christmas parties in Oakland...

[General Mike]

Wasn't he trying to get fired?



Why else would you try a 76 yard FG?

[Raiders Army]

Please, please stop until it's official. All these sites with the "scoop" are pathetic. At some point, somebody will be right and Kiffin will be fired. It's inevitable but this is like the game where you have to guess what number I'm thinking. 1, no. 2, no. 3, no. 4, no. 5, no. 6, no. 7, yes!!!!! You were right!!! Keep on saying it and eventually somebody will be right. Al will do what Al will do.

That being said, Al needs to fire him or give him a vote of confidence. Shit or get off the pot.

[sabotai]

I think I would just resign in that position. Having a boss that micromanages YOUR job and dangles the threat of firing you at every opportunity while stabbing you in the back? I bet they have GREAT Christmas parties in Oakland...

He doesn't get paid if he quits. If he's fired, Al Davis still has to give him the millions he's owed in his contract. I think I'd put up with the old fart for a few more weeks if it meant several million dollars come my way.

[molson]

We need an NFL bailout of some type to ensure Lane Kiffin will continue with his entertainingly wacky stunts!

[flounder]

We need an NFL bailout of some type to ensure Lane Kiffin will continue with his entertainingly wacky stunts!

The Raiders are too big to fail!

[DeToxRox]

From PFT

Though things are extremely fluid and uncertain at this point, we’re told that Raiders owner Al Davis currently is expected to meet with the media on Tuesday to announce that Raiders coach Lane Kiffin is out, and that the new coach will be either Greg Knapp, Tom Cable, or Paul Hackett.

We’re also told that Davis is consulting primarily with John “Get Your F–king Hand Off Me” Herrera regarding the situation, with general counsel Jeff Birren being consulted for the legal side of things.

Meanwhile, we wonder how defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will feel about not even being interviewed for the gig, given that he publicly went to bat for Davis three weeks ago.

Then again, maybe Ryan would have gotten an interview if his defense hadn’t given up 25 points in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Chargers.

Finally, we’re hearing that word of the interviews leaked because the assistants informed head coach Lane Kiffin that they’d be interviewing for his job. Kiffin then started talking about the situation, and word made its way to ESPN’s John Clayton, who might or might not have farted in amazement upon hearing the news.

[JeeberD]

But...but...JLH caught a career high FOUR receptions yesterday! That's gotta count for something, Al!!!

[MikeVic]

wtf, did that FG attempt really happen?

[stevew]

But...but...JLH caught a career high FOUR receptions yesterday! That's gotta count for something, Al!!!

That exceeds Lee Mays' output in 12 long seasons on the steelers practice squad.

[stevew]

Dola

Can someone please start one of these threads on Mike Tomlin, or at least on Bruce Arians(the OC). Pretty please?

[Thomkal]

ESPN is reporting Kiffin will be fired today and Al Davis will not pay him any of the remainder of his contract

[Thomkal]

ha beat you to it! what do I win?

[Lathum]

ESPN is reporting Kiffin will be fired today and Al Davis will not pay him any of the remainder of his contract

seriously?

[Crim]

ping: Mike Shanahan

[DeToxRox]

Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that Raiders owner Al Davis called head coach Lane Kiffin this morning and told him that he’s fired.

Per Mortensen, Davis told Kiffin that he is terminating him without pay, and that Kiffin should not expect to receive the remaining money due him on his contract. It’s safe to assume Kiffin and his agent/lawyer will have something to say about that.

John Clayton reported on ESPN that Kiffin is still owed $3.5 million.

It’s not clear who the new head coach of the Raiders will be, but Mortensen said offensive line coach Tom Cable is the most likely choice.

[Chubby]

like anyone expexted Davis to fire Kiffin with pay. Kiffin will probably win in court and get his money in the end

[Lathum]

Any good that Davis ever did for the league is undone by this nonsense. Its time to put him out to pasture.

[bulletsponge]

ha beat you to it! what do I win?

your the new head coach of the Faiders

[JeeberD]

like anyone expexted Davis to fire Kiffin with pay. Kiffin will probably win in court and get his money in the end

Ask Mike Shanahan if he thinks Kiffin will get his money...

[JeeberD]

Dola-

Who would accept a coaching job there knowing how Al treats his coaches? I mean, this is at least the second time he's not honored a coaches contract after firing him...

[miked]

We need thunderdome.

Bust a deal, face the wheel!

[Thomkal]

your the new head coach of the Faiders

um...I think I shall bestow that "honor" to Ronnie Dobbs

[Rizon]

I can never post this enough.
http://home.comcast.net/~rizon1976/Oakland_Raiders_Generator.jpg

[MJ4H]

Nope sorry coaches can't leave in the middle of the season.

[Passacaglia]

I guess Art Shell wasn't available?

[George]

It's done.

Kiffin fired by Raiders - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_raiders_kiffin_fired_1)

[Crim]

Mike Shanahan had this shit on Sportsdigs, like, over a decade ago.

[molson]

This is how I see the list of Raiders coaching candidates

Art Shell
Rod Rust
Greg Robinson
Rich Kotite

[DeToxRox]

I'm calling for Matt Millen to be hired in some capacity.

[MikeVic]

Mr. Kotter.

[Raiders Army]

It's hard being a fan.

[MJ4H]

I sympathize.

[Logan]

WTF is this loon talking about?

[DeToxRox]

So he has said Javon Walker and DeAngelo Hall suck. Kiffin is a liar. Kiffin had total control. And I only heard five minutes.

This is the best presser EVER!

[thesloppy]

The PFT sumary is pretty good:


http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/09/30/davis-accues-kiffin-of-propaganda-lying/ (http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/09/30/davis-accues-kiffin-of-propaganda-lying/)
----------
DAVIS ACCUSES KIFFIN OF PROPAGANDA, LYING
Posted by Mike Florio on September 30, 2008, 5:34 p.m. EDT

At the outset of a stunningly candid press conference regarding the team’s decision to fire coach Lane Kiffin, Raiders owner Al Davis explained that Kiffin was fired for “propanganda” and “lying” that had gone on for months. Kiffin was “bringing disgrace to the organization,” Davis said, calling Kiffin on multiple times a “flat-out liar.”

One thing is clear to us: The 79-year-old Davis still seems to be as sharp mentally as he ever has been, and we tend to believe every word he’s saying.

He claims that Kiffin at some point got the idea in his head that he could get out of his contract and still get paid, and that Kiffin tried to accomplish it by complaining regularly about his situation.

Davis went on to read from a three-page letter given to Kiffin on the Friday before the Week Two game against the Chiefs, which letter was prompted by Kiffin’s comments that he has no involvement in the defense, and that coordinator Rob Ryan works directly with Davis on this point.

Also, Davis said that Kiffin called every play on offense during his time with the team, and that he split the play-calling duties with an unnamed assistant coach on Sunday against the Chargers.

After the Week Three loss to the Bills, Davis said that he asked Kiffin point-blank why he didn’t use his final two time outs. “He takes exception when you question him,” Davis said.

Davis then made a snide remark regarding the 76-yard-field goal attempt at the end of the first half of the Week Four loss to the Chargers, which prompted us to question whether Kiffin was trying to get himself fired.

Asked whether Kiffin was daring Davis to fire him, Davis said, “That’s a good question.”

The rift apparently arose seven months ago. Davis said that Kiffin wanted to his father, Monte Kiffin, to run the defense — and that Monte Kiffin wanted to do it. Davis claims that the Raiders opted not to pursue the elder Kiffin because he was under contract with the Bucs.

Davis denied sending Kiffin a resignation letter in the offseason. Davis claims that Kiffin wanted to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan after the 2007 season. “I can’t win with this guy,” Kiffin supposedly told Davis.

Davis said that Kiffin didn’t want to draft quarterback JaMarcus Russell, because Kiffin thought he’d be the “overweight guy” and the “uninterested guy.”

Said Kiffin after the 2007 season (per Davis), “We can’t win with this.”

Davis also confirmed that Kiffin wanted the Arkansas job, which Kiffin previously denied. Lane was “upset as hell” about it when Bobby Petrino left Atlanta to get the job. Kiffin then supposedly targeted another college job.

As to reports that Kiffin was presented with a letter of resignation, Davis said that the document was an attempt to resolve Kiffin’s situation if he were to get another job, at the college level. Davis said that Kiffin, whom he called a “professional liar,” then turned that into a claim that Davis had presented him with a resignation letter.

Davis ended his remarks, before fielding questions, by stating unequivocally that the team will rebound from this, and that the Raiders will win.

Frankly, we were riveted by the press conference. Davis rarely speaks publicly but when he does he brings the heat. And we get the sense that he treats his people well, if they are willing to treats others well, too. Particularly compelling to us were comments from Davis regarding his desire that long-term players not simply be discarded, and that Kiffin take care of ex-Raiders.
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YES! Old-man soOOoper smackdown!

[molson]

Hmm - it is possible that Kiffin is the nutjob here?

[Chubby]

Hmm - it is possible that Kiffin is the nutjob here?

Kiffin didn't make the Raiders suck for the last decade

[SirFozzie]

Why would any coach ever work for Al Davis ever again? The last few weeks are obviously (to me) an attempt to get him to quit so Davis wouldn't have to pay him, and now he's trying to weasel (again, my opinion) out of paying him money.

Who would work for this whackaloon?

[SirFozzie]

Hmm - it is possible that Kiffin is the nutjob here?

At least as it stands, no.. Let's look at the history of Davis being a nutjob compared to Kiffin.. now admittedly, Davis has had 40+ more years of insanity as a base.. but there's no doubt that Al Davis is to put it politely, past his prime.

[molson]

Seriously though, what the hell was the deal with the 76-yard field goal?

The chance of scoring there is 0%. The chance of a blocked kick or runback for TD is signficantly higher than that.

[Rizon]

I only wish Satan Davis would move his "team" somewhere, far, far, FAR away from here.

[Bigsmooth]

Kiffin would be a great hire up here in Seattle at UW. Tyrone is on his way out the door. Bring in an interim head coach for the rest of the year and let Kiffin dominate the recruiting trail.

[MJ4H]

I was thinking more like Tennessee?

[JHandley]

Kiffin would be a great hire up here in Seattle at UW. Tyrone is on his way out the door. Bring in an interim head coach for the rest of the year and let Kiffin dominate the recruiting trail.

Oh please make that happen. I'm telling you, as a non-native Seattleite, living in Seattle this comic gold.

UW shouldn't win a game this year they might pull out one, but they shouldn't.

The Mariners lost 101 games this year. All they had to do to make sure they got the #1 pick in the draft is drop 2 of 3 to the A's. They promptly sweep the A's and the Nats get the top pick.

Seahawks should be able to turn it around now that they aren't starting grocery boys at wide out anymore. Not much comedy there.

A group from OKC bought the Sonics and to everyone's surprise, moved the team to OKC.

I don't believe Kifflin is as crazy as Davis. Davis is batshit crazy, but Kifflin has plenty of insane in him to make this fun. I'd love to see him coach the Huskies.

[sabotai]

Hmm - it is possible that Kiffin is the nutjob here?

My vote goes to both of them being nutjobs. Davis because of the last few decades, Kiffin because he took the job to begin with.

[Buccaneer]

There's a rumor about Kiffen to Syracuse.

[Raiders Army]

I think there are obviously some truths to Al's rants. Specifically, Kiffin lost the last two games (I think) on purpose. Some of his playcalling wasn't like it was last year and I think he sandbagged it to make the defense look bad. It was 15-0 at halftime last Sunday against one of the best offenses in the league. When you run, run, pass on 3rd and long, it's easy to go three and out.

That being said, I think some of what Al's spewing is just venomous hate and an obvious attempt at poisoning Kiffin's chances of landing another job. I think he could've taken the high road here and just said that there was a difference of opinions and prevent the burning of a bridge.

Who will coach? It will inevitably be some dummy, loser, yes-man, or a combination of the three. It's sad that Al has fallen so hard and refuses to believe it.

[DeToxRox]

I don't buy for one second Kiffin had total say over personnel moves. I doubt he had much say at all. And I also don't buy he called any of those defensive plays.

[Raiders Army]

I don't see where it says he called defensive plays.

[Chief Rum]

There's a rumor about Kiffen to Syracuse.

That might be a difficult move to pull off.

Al Davis===HUGE Syracuse supporter

[Lathum]

The Raiders will never be succesfull until Davis is gone.

[Bigsmooth]

Davis in HD....mercy.

[EagleFan]

Al Davis is a raving lunatic. His act is tired and boring. Granted the coach may not be the most innocent person in this but what else do you expect from someone who would actually agree to be a coach on that team with that lunatic running it.

[Subby]

Is it just me or does Kiffin have a pretty strong case for libel?

[Subby]

Fascinating post-presser stuff over at PFT.com (http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/10/01/davis-drops-lots-of-post-press-conference-bombshells/) btw.

[cuervo72]

Fascinating post-presser stuff over at PFT.com (http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/10/01/davis-drops-lots-of-post-press-conference-bombshells/) btw.

Huh. That does show Davis from a slightly different angle, doesn't it?

[Lathum]

Is it just me or does Kiffin have a pretty strong case for libel?

I dont think he does.

Unless I am mistaken the courts will take the first literal meaning of the words, so when Al calls him a flat out liar, all they would need to do would be prove he lied about 1 thing his entire time there.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Davis hinted that he has been talking to a “local” guy who might join the team in an executive role after the season.

Matt Millen?

[SteveMax58]

I think they are definitely building up a legends match of Monte Kiffin vs. Al Davis for the next Wrestlemania.

Maybe a retirement match? Casket match?

[DeToxRox]

I think they are definitely building up a legends match of Monte Kiffin vs. Al Davis for the next Wrestlemania.

Maybe a retirement match? Casket match?

Casket match is Davis speciality, so for Monte's sake, I hope not.