Friday, January 22, 2010

Sources: Oakland Raiders reached out to Stanford's Jim Harbaugh

The Oakland Raiders have spoken to Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh about becoming their head coach, sources inside and outside the organization said, but Harbaugh did not express interest in the job.

The Raiders also have spoken with former offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, who now coaches in the CFL.

AFC West blog

Oakland Raiders reached out to Stanfords Jim Harbaugh

ESPN.com's Bill Williamson writes about all things AFC West in his division blog.

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A source said Jim Fassel also talked to Oakland about the job but the former NFL coach, in an interview with Sirius/XM Mad Dog Radio on Wednesday, denied speaking to the Raiders.

"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. I'm in the same fraternity," Fassel, who is the head coach of the Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL, said.

Tom Cable's status as Oakland's coach remains uncertain at best. He was scheduled to meet with owner Al Davis last week, but the meeting did not take place. The future of Cable and his staff remains up in the air until that meeting occurs.

Cable has pointed to the team's improvement after Russell's midseason benching as proof that he deserves another year to get the Raiders back to the playoffs.

Herrera said Davis and Cable have talked extensively since the season ended, with many of those discussions coming by phone.

"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."

Meanwhile, the Raiders are hosting a visit Wednesday with Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson, who is interviewing for their offensive coordinator job, according to a team source.

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Oakland has been seeking someone who could work with and develop former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell.

"A lot of people have called inquiring about coaching positions," senior executive John Herrera said.

Cable's job security is in question after he went 5-11 in his first full season as coach and failed to develop Russell into a legitimate NFL quarterback. Cable is 9-19 since replacing Lane Kiffin early in the 2008 season, leading the Raiders to their NFL-worst seventh straight season with at least 11 losses.

Cable has pointed to the team's improvement after Russell's midseason benching as proof that he deserves another year.



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