OAKLAND – The accusations are now public about Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable. His defensive assistant, Randy Hanson 
spoke with media about what he told police investigators concerning Tom Cable’s part in breaking Hanson’s jaw.
Although the NFL isn’t ready to make an announcement of its own findings, unless there is something to contradict the very stark facts from Hanson’s account of the incident the league is expected to punish Cable.
The question is how. Will it be a fine, suspension or both?
Since the coaches don’t have a union, there won’t be formatted procedures available to Cable such as a hearing or an appeals process.
Here is what Randy Hanson told Yahoo! Sports that was reported this weekend: “From my blindside, Tom Cable threw me from my chair and into a piece of furniture that a lamp sat upon. He was screaming, ‘I’ll f— kill you! I’ll f— kill you!’ And I have no reason to believe he wouldn’t have killed me if they hadn’t pulled him away. If my head would’ve hit a different way, I might be dead right now.”
Yahoo! reported that three of Hanson’s colleagues corroborated his story.
It is unclear if the Raiders’ owner Al Davis will have the ability to protect his coach from the wrath of Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Hanson has been quoted previously as admitting his close relationship with his owner. Thus it’s hard to believe that Davis will go to bat for Cable.
Goodell’s stance will be buttressed by the decision of the Napa Valley authorities to charge Cable with a crime.
Once that happens, which sounds likely, the coach will be exposed to how the league treats players who collide with the criminal process.
Players will look to the commissioner to be even handed about the league’s personal conduct policy. Cable, who hasn’t spoken on the subject since August has presided over a 1-4 start to the season. The team will hard pressed to argue that it will suffer on the field if their coach disappears for a while.
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