This is a copy of a letter made public today by the Oakland Raiders sent to Lane Kiffin, who was replaced by Tom Cable (Offensive Line Coach) as the new Raiders head coach.
September 12, 2008
By Hand Delivery and Federal Express
Dear Lane:
Over the past months, you have made a number of public statements that were highly critical of, and designed to embarrass and discredit, this organization, its players and its coaches. I left you alone during training camp in hopes that you would cease your immature and destructive campaign.
However, you continue to make public statements that are critical of the organization, its players as whole as well as individual players. Such statements constitute conduct detrimental to the Raiders and I will no longer stand silently by while you continue to hurt this organization.
Further, your contract is quite clear that you work “subject to the direction and supervision of the General Partner” and that the General Partner has “the exclusive right to do all things, which in its sole discretion are necessary to maintain and improve the Club, the football organization and their activities.”
I realized when I hired you that you were young and inexperienced and that there would be a learning process for you. Your mistakes on player personnel and coaches were overlooked based on our patience with you. But I never dreamt that you would be untruthful in statements to the press as well as on so many other issues. Your actions are those of a coach looking to makes (sic) excuses for not winning, rather than a coach focused on winning.
For example, with the exception of Gibril Wilson, you were involved in recruiting all free agents and determining salaries for them and you were explicit about your desire to sign Javon Walker and DeAngelo Hall amongst others. All were a must to sign in your eyes, Hall, in particular, because he played for Greg Knapp in Atlanta and Knapp gave him high grades. Do not run from that now.
I do realize that you did not want us to draft JaMarcus Russell. He is a great player. Get over it and coach this team on the field, that is what you were hired to do. We can win with this team!
In regards to your recent fabrications about the defense, during the final cuts you made every cut on offense and every cut on defense except for (Fred) Wakefield on defense and (Seth) Wand on offense. Furthermore, during the game Monday night (defensive coordinator) Rob (Ryan) played your Cover-2 defense and we got killed on an approximately 50-yard touchdown pass and an approximately 70-yard gain that led to a field goal.
You meet every week with the defensive coaches to go over both the past game and to get a general feel for what will happen during the week in practice. You have the ability and authority to provide your input during those meetings and the preparation of the game plan. I do not have weekly meetings with Rob — you do.
During the week no one has ever told you what to do on either offense or defense. In addition, no one has ever told you during a game what to do on either offense or defense and you call every play on offense. During a game if you want to blitz more, all you have to do is let Rob know what blitz you want and he will do it.
Although you continue to use the media to express your dissatisfaction with others, no one has publicly pointed out to you that in four preseason games and one regular-season game played this year, your offense has scored one first-half touchdown. That put tremendous pressure on the defense.
I know that you wanted to bring your father in to run the defense and that Monte told me that he wanted to come here even though he as (sic) under contract to Tampa. However I did not want to tamper with another team. In any event that was over seven months ago. Do not now also run from the defense and your responsibilities.
This letter constitutes notice that if you further violate any term of your contract, in any manner whatsoever, you will be terminated for cause. I trust that this will not occur.
A.D. Football, Inc.
New England - It seems like everyone believes they will pick up just where they left off. I don’t think as many players will have the type of career years they had last year, and I think the defense has sustained some key losses and has gotten older. Still, they should have enough to win this division.
NY Jets - In addition to Brett Favre, they have an interesting group of receivers - sort of like Favre had with the Pack last season. If the offense does click, they should be back in the playoffs.
Buffalo - If there was some hint that their defense was going to be vastly improved, I’d give them a shot at making the playoffs. If Trent Edwards falters they have no chance.
Miami - Probably will elevate from pitiful to mediocre.
Pittsburgh - The combination of Holmes and Ward at WR makes them explosive. The depth at RB is much better than last year. You know Pittsburgh defense is going to be tough as always, so if the O Line keep Big Ben upright this team is one of the AFC elite.
Cleveland - Is the defense going to be improved enough and is their offense going to stay as hot as it was last year? I’m not so sure. Last year, the team had no expectations, but this year expectations may be too high.
Baltimore - As usual, the roster looks pretty loaded with 1 gaping hole at QB. When they had decent QB play with McNair two seasons ago, they won the division, and without it they plummeted. It looks like they are in for another year without it.
Cincinnati - One of my candidates for worse team in the league. Defense still looks like its lacking in talent and the offensive cohesion they showed a couple of seasons ago looks to be all gone.
Indianapolis - As always, will be near the top - how close to the top will depend on how well the D plays.
Jacksonville - Everyone’s sexy pick. Unless Jones-Drew and Taylor are running wild their offense sputters. Let’s face it, the O is not as good as Indy or New England, and the defense is not much better than the Steelers if at all. It’s illogical to think they will be better than any of those teams.
Tennessee - It’s apparent that Young has not picked up the pro passing game. I wonder what sort of magic Jeff Fisher is going to come up with to work around this problem.
Houston - Developing a pretty decent roster. So far Schaub has not had to endure any harsh criticism. It’ll be interesting to see what he can do now that he’ll actually be given a fair chance with the level of talent around him.
San Diego - With or without Merriman, probably the most talented roster in the league.
Denver - I think Denver is going to be involved in a lot of very high scoring games this year.
Oakland - They still don’t quite look like a playoff contender but it’s nice to finally go into a year with an expectation of more than 4 wins.
Kansas City - Herm will get as much out of his defense as he can get, but even if it’s much improved their season could still be torpedoed by Croyle’s inconsistency. (Read interceptions)
Dallas - Crayton gets by because he’s got T.O. on the other side. If they had a real #2 WR the offense would truly be scary. Even still, it’s way better than anything else in the NFC.
NY Giants - This was a decent team that rode a hellacious pass rush through the playoffs and to a Super Bowl victory. I really never felt like the rest of the team was championship calibre however. I still don’t.
Philadelphia - Was almost going to be my surprise pick for the NFC. But the most talented receiver on the roster is a rookie and probably cannot be relied upon. Also, the cutting of Jerome McDougle befuddles me. This guy spent the pre-season wreaking havoc in opponent’s backfields. They cut him and the Giants snapped him up. Weird.
Washington - Why am I always having to be the one who has to point out how overrated this team is? Two seasons ago people got all excited about their free agent signings and I had to be the voice of reason and point out that the free agents hadn’t actually improved their chances of winning - and lo and behold, they stunk. Last year I knew they would struggle with Campbell at QB and when he went out and Collins came in they eeked into the playoffs. But last year there were really only 5 playoff teams (if that many) in the NFC. They got in by default. Heck, they barely beat out the Vikings, a team that had NO passing offense. Now this year, just because they were a “playoff” team last year, prognosticators have taken it for granted that they will be good. Nope. They are just as bad as they were last year because Campbell hasn’t shown any signs of vast improvement.
Green Bay - I have faith in this offense, even with Rogers, but it’s going to be hard to expect everything falling into place as it did for them last year. I’d be a little surprised if they do not win the division (given the competition) but I don’t think they are on the brink of a Super Bowl invitation either.
Chicago - If the defense plays as poorly as it did last year it will be another long season for them. I expect a little better this season. One thing is for certain, the play of the QB can’t get any worse.
Minnesota - I’m just not sure the D is going to be a great as everyone is expecting. I’m not a big fan of their LBs. Even with Bernard Berrian, the passing offense is still going to be hit and miss with Tavaris Jackson. I’m not saying this is a bad team, I just think it getting too hyped up.
Detroit - Looking at the roster it really woudn’t surprise me if Detroit won this division. But this is Detroit so I’m not going to believe it until I actually see it.
New Orleans - Even if the offense doesn’t play to the calibre it did 2 seasons ago, there’s just too much talent on the roster to believe it will struggle as much as it did last year. The questions remain on the other side of the ball. If the off season acquisitions improve the defense then suddenly they are one of the better teams in the NFC.
Tampa Bay - They keep drafting players I like and then playing other people. And Gruden seems more interested in winning with a QB off the scrap heap than just plain winning. The fact that they won the division last year lends no credibility. That was done by default. I think they are about as good as they were last year which probably won’t be good enough this year.
Carolina - I think Dwayne Jarrett will have a break out season. Add him to Smith and Muhammed and that’s a lot of talent running around in the secondary. I wonder if Julius Peppers will return to form cuz he didn’t do much last year. I want to predict big things for this team but after seeing them disappoint me the last two seasons I’m gun shy.
Atlanta - You can’t expect much from them this year being that they’ve got a rookie QB playing with a shabby group of receivers, but don’t be fooled. I think they have really drafted well the past couple of seasons and they could very well be my surprise pick for the ‘09 season.
Seattle - The Sean Alexander replacements seem to be decent so I don’t expect their offense to suddenly begin to struggle even though they have some injury problems at WR. Their defense doesn’t get a lot of attention but it actually looks pretty talented.
Arizona - I really feel like the Cards have finally accumulated the critical mass of talent needed to reach the playoffs. But it’s the Cards. I’m not actually going to believe it until I see it.
San Francisco - I think the defense is going to play better than most people are expecting this season. But just because Alex Smith is lacking what he needs between the ears to be a competent NFL quarterback, does not mean J.T. O’Sullivan is going to be the second coming of Montana. I think the QB situation keeps the Niners from doing any real damage.
St. Louis - I think it’s between them and the Bengals as to which team will be the worst in the NFL this season.
Super Bowl Prediction: My Super Bowl predictions stink. Last year’s pick of the Patriots v. Cowboys was about as well as I have done in the salary cap era. I’m better at making sleeper picks. Three seasons ago I went with Cincinnati and lo and behold they won their division. Two seasons ago, San Diego, and they had the best record in the AFC. Last season I foresaw the emergence of the Packers. Now in the case of Cincinnati and San Diego I got carried away and predicted they would make the Super Bowl. I finally learned my lesson and didn’t go so far with the Packers. (and they came within an overtime of actually making it.) This season, I don’t have a sleeper pick. There are no under the radar teams that I see big things for. Thus, I predict the favorites will all succeed. In the NFC, the clear favorite is Dallas. In the AFC, you could go a couple of different directions. I’m going to say New England won’t be as good as last year, Indy will struggle on D, San Diego will have injury problems leaving Pittsburgh as the team to come out on top. And just because the AFC remains stronger than the NFC I’ll take Pittsburgh over Dallas in the Super Bowl.