Silver and Black Report

Agent Jack Bechta, who represents Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh, refuted a story that his client interviewed for the Oakland Raiders or that he was offered the job to coach the club.

“There is no truth to the rumors that Jim Harbaugh or I have met with the Raiders,” Bechta told the National Football post.

“Further, Jim has not interviewed with nor been offered the head coaching job of the Oakland Raiders. Jim and Al (Davis, team owner) have a very special relationship full of mutual respect. However, the rumors circulating are absolutely false.”

The Raiders still have not made a decision publicly about Tom Cable’s future with the club, but rumors have circulated about possible candidates for the eventual opening if he is jettisoned.

Hue Jackson has recently made a trip to Oakland to interview for a mystery job.

Raider executives have also shot down any reports that they have interviewed coaches such as Jim Fassel and Marc Trestman.

“The reports that we’ve interviewed prospective head coaches are totally untrue, totally false,” John Herrera told the Oakland Tribune.

Fassel stated on Siirus.XM radio that he hasn’t been contacted by the Silver & Black and that he is not lobbying for a position.

Unlike Rob Ryan, who stated, “Hell, yeah, I’d have interest,” if Oakland had an opening.

Trestman has been linked to the Raiders, but his agent also denied some of the news circulating about his client.

“All I can tell you is Marc’s the head coach of the Alouettes and has not interviewed for any jobs,” agent, Darren Weiner reported to The Montreal Gazette. “Nor is he trying to position himself for any jobs. There’s no news to report. He’s the head coach (of Montreal). That’s it.”

Reports today have circulated about the Oakland Raiders reaching out to current Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh. Even though no decision has been made regarding Tom Cable’s future, insiders have stated that Harbaugh was talked about being their next coach, but the former NFL quarterback was not interested in the job.

Jim Fassel has also been rumored about for some time now, but he trashed any thoughts of him throwing his own hat into the ring on Sirius.XM Radio on Wednesday commenting, “I’m not lobbying for the Raider job. I have never in my life rooted for a coach to be let go so there’s an opening. I never have.”

Fassel, who is the head coach of the Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL, has had his name come up in the past when Oakland had openings and his son – John – is the current special teams coordinator for the Silver & Black.

Other names such as Winston Moss and Marc Trestman have also surfaced.

SBReport.net learned on January 12^th that Trestman was a leading candidate if there was an opening and that Oakland had serious interest in the current coach of the Montreal Alouettes that play in the Canadian Football League.

Cable has been in limbo since the end of the 2009 season. And per John Herrera, both Al Davis and Cable have talked while other coaches have contacted Oakland for positions.

“Most of the characterizations of Al Davis’ meetings with the head coach being short or brief are not true either,” Herrera said. “Mr. Davis has had meetings of some depth with the head coach. There have been meetings and meetings of substance.”

He continued: “A lot of people have called inquiring about coaching positions.”

ESPN has reported that Hue Jackson is under consideration to take over as the offensive coordinator.

Many of these rumors can lead you to believe that Davis may still be considering keeping Cable and delegating other duties to new staffers. As stated in an article on SBREPORT.NET, Davis could be setting up varying parameters for Cable’s return.

Or, Davis is testing the waters to see what’s available if and when he decides to pull the plug on Cable.

Either way, Davis’ actions right now are very undermining and not very loyal. Especially if he’s partaking in these interviews with candidates such as Jackson to comply with the Rooney Rule.

Cable right now appears like a puppet; a coach who is just in purgatory.

But one thing he has been is loyal. And more importantly, a guy who wants the job and has shown great pride in being the Raiders coach.

It’s Tuesday and since this past weekend, reports have been circulating about Tom Cable’s demise. Beat writer Steve Corkran reported after Oakland’s final game that sources close to Al Davis stated the owner was inclined to fire Cable.

An apparent meeting that originally was planned for Monday was held off and senior executive John Herrera stated, “I never had any knowledge of a meeting on Monday,” as per the Contra Costa Times.

At this point, could Davis be lining-up all the candidates?

Is there anyway he can be swayed or have a change of heart and keep Cable around for another season?

Most likely not, and if I had to guess, the owner is probably ready to swing the ax any day now.

Davis has always had his own timeline when hiring and firing coaches. And that won’t change now.

Sources close to SBReport.net have learned that if Cable is a goner, former Raiders offensive coordinator Marc Trestman will be the leading candidate for the job.

Trestman has held many positions throughout the NFL, ranging from quality control to quarterbacks coach in his career. He has coached Bernie Kosar, Steve Young and Jake Plummer among others.

Since 2007, he has been the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. In 2009, he won the Grey Cup and it was announced that he had been signed through their 2012 campaign.

Other rumored candidates include Winston Moss, Jim Fassel and current Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. Moss played for the Oakland Raiders, Fassel was once employed by the Silver & Black, and his son is the current special teams coordinator. Harbaugh has been sprinkled in to every vacancy rumor and is a hot commodity since injecting life into the Cardinal program.

With Bruce Gradkowski limping around on two creaky knees, the Oakland Raiders decided to ink free-agent J.P Losman.

The former 22^nd overall pick in the 2004 draft by the Buffalo Bills was at the Raider facility today taking a physical. With Buffalo, Losman’s record was 10-23 while compiling 33 touchdowns, 34 interceptions, 6,211 passing yards and a rating of 75.6.

When his contract expired after the 2008 campaign, the Bills showed no interest in re-signing him and eventually he landed in the United Football League. Losman played for the Las Vegas Locomotives coached by Jim Fassel and they ultimately won the inaugural UFL championship game 20-17 versus the Florida Tuskers. He tallied 193 passing yards on 21-of-35 completions during that contest.

Fassel has been linked to vacancies in the past on the Raiders coaching staff and his son, John, is currently the special teams coordinator for the Silver & Black.

Losman is known to have a strong arm, but the elder Fassel worked with him closely while in the UFL to refine his abilities.

Oakland head coach Tom Cable yesterday stated that he would look at his options before deciding who starts this weekend versus the Denver Broncos. JaMarcus Russell entered the game against the Redskins at the beginning of the 2^nd half for the injured Gradkowski and the team only managed 39-yards of total net offense after tallying nearly 200 to start the game. Charlie Frye started in one game in 2008 – the last time he saw action in the league – going 12-of-23 for 83 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions during a 27-17 loss against the Green Bay Packers.

The Raiders also waived Roy Schuening and signed tackle Elliot Vallejo to the practice squad.

ANALYSIS

How the mighty have fallen. Once a promising passer with massive potential is now fighting to start a game late in the season against the likes of Charlie Frye. Russell’s career is on the bust path. And at this point, you can make the argument that Frye and Losman are better equipped to handle a NFL playbook and be at the helm of a professional offense.

Losman will be insurance. But you have to wonder, with John [Fassel] on the team, [Jim] Fassel having a history with Losman and Cable possibly on the outs, could this be the opening Jim has looked for to get a job back in the NFL?

No one is saying that Al Davis will completely give up on his big investment. We all know how much Davis cherishes his selections and how he throws his weight around to make sure certain players stick around and/or play when he wants. Hiring Fassel and Davis then justifying the hiring as a way to get Russell’s career going could be something we may hear in the near future. Davis can cite then how Fassel has won games with Danny Kannell as his passer, how he resurrected Kerry Collins’ career and how he’s tutored John Elway and Phil Simms.

Losman was not brought in to be the team’s next future starter. But there are many links now going back to Jim Fassel, and Davis has always been fond of his former offensive assistant (1994).

Fassel wants to coach. He has admitted to wanting to work in the league and stated he was ‘disappointed’ when the Washington Redskins decided to go with Jim Zorn instead, also saying, “I will get another chance,” after the tough process.

“I’m just surprised,” Fassel commented. “I’m hurt by it. Life moves on.”

Chances are, if Cable does not finish strong as he did last season, and after the off the field ruckus surrounding him all year, Davis may make another move to try to salvage his number one overall pick and his ever plummeting organization.

Fassel has a 60-56-1 record (regular and post-season). His Giants won the NFC Championship game in 2000, and they also won two division titles during his stay in New York. Oakland isn’t a hot spot for coaching. And Oakland may be looking for one again this off-season…

Fassel will surely be one of the few coaches that would want the job and Davis may be one of the few people that could spin it that this job is just right for him.

Contact Author:  Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist