Oakland Raiders interim head coach Tom Cable had some choice words for assistant offensive line coach James Cregg during a Monday afternoon press conference.
Oakland Raiders Head Coach Tom Cable
Cregg informed Cable after the Raiders 49-26 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday that he was leaving to accept a job on former Raiders coach Lane Kiffin’s staff at Tennessee.
“You don’t do that,” Cable said. “You never quit. You never quit, I don’t care what it is. You don’t quit.”
Cregg’s association with Kiffin goes back to 1999 when Kiffin was as an assistant at Colorado State. He played offensive line for the school and was working as a grad assistant coach when Kiffin was there.
He joined the Raiders in 2007, when Kiffin was named head coach.
Cable was upset at the timing of Cregg’s departure.
“They’re in a dead period starting next weekend,” Cable said. “So James’ services are really only needed for the next five days, at which time we’ll be done in a couple of weeks.
“In terms of that, if James wanted to take a position, he should have at that time.”
Tennessee Vols Assistant Coach James Cregg
On Monday, Cable terminated two staff members with Kiffin ties: director of football operations Mark Jackson and office assistant Steve Reaves, Kiffin’s brother-in-law and younger brother of David Reaves.
“I think that’s the wrong way to handle things. I think that anybody in their right mind would understand the college rules,” Cable said.
“They’re in a dead period starting next weekend. So James’ services are really only needed for the next five days, at which time we’ll be done in a couple weeks.
In terms of that, if James wanted to take a position, he should have at that time.”
When asked if he intended on talking to Kiffin, Cable said, “Oh, yes.”
When asked if he had already talked to him, Cable said, “Not yet.”
Cable obviously took issue with Cregg’s perceived lack of loyalty. Of course, that loyalty is a one-way street.
Cable obviously had no problem with Kiffin’s termination a few weeks into the season, but took umbrage with Cregg’s decision to seek a better opportunity at Tennessee.
Tennessee Vols Head Coach Lane Kiffin
Moreover, Cable’s assertion that college football programs are “in a dead period starting next weekend,” shows his ignorance regarding the importance of assembling a staff.
The perception of stability, unlike the situation in Oakland, is paramount in developing a solid rapport with recruits.
The life-blood of any college football program is its ability to effectively recruit talented prep prospects and a full compliment of assistant coaches are needed to facilitate that process.
We’ll find out how Cable feels about loyalty at the end of the season when in all likelihood, Al Davis will fire him.
Cable has compiled a 2-8 record since replacing Kiffin as the head coach of the Raiders.
