Tom Cable Has Support inside the Oakland Raiders, But Does He Have Al Davis?

By Monday, a number of NFL coaches were given their walking papers, most for different reasons. The Lions and Browns parted ways with their respective coaches, no real surprises there. The Jets, meanwhile, used their coach as a scapegoat for a season that started out well, only to crash....well, like a jet.

Now, in Oakland, two things of interest have happened.

One, is nothing. Some would be led to believe this is a good thing, because if Cable had finished the season with two losses, Cable would either be demoted or gone completely.

In either case, it hasn't happened. The second thing that has happened, and it's surprising, is the media seems to be pulling for the born-Raider. With a few exceptions, Cable's been looked at as having several things going for him.

For one, he got the team on track and took two impressive wins in the last two weeks, including thumping Gruden's team. He also has a 3-2 record in the last five weeks, a record better than the Denver Broncos over the same span.

And to anyone's relief, he wasn't shy in addressing what it would take to turn the team around: an attitude adjustment had to happen first, to get the team's mindset straightened out.

For Davis, there are a few hoops he needs to jump through first. Obviously, the Rooney Rule means he has to interview one other person of minority race. He could stay home and do that, because earlier in the season a few felt that James Lofton was being planted as Kiffin's successor.

This might have turned sour, as Javon Walker's failure, and other issues with the WR corps may make Al consider this a moot point.

Second hoop, Al has until mid-January to officially do anything. Then Tom's contract ends, and Al can either re-sign him or see if there's another coach out on the circuit that will interest him more.

The hardest part with the waiting game is it seems the longer we wait, the worse the odds get. Tom's already admitted he'd love to return. Don't put the Raiders back to square one, Al. Keep Tom around.