Raiders Finally Fire Kiffin

While I'm too crushed to write a proper introduction, here are some notes from around football .

* After weeks of drama, speculation, and mind-boggling details about Oakland's dysfunction, Lane Kiffin finally got the ax Tuesday. Owner Al Davis held a press conference to seemingly give a public, step-by-step accounting of Kiffin's failings that included accusing him of lying and spreading propaganda, among several other bizarre allegations like being responsible for trading Randy Moss.

Offensive line coach Tom Cable got the nod to replace Kiffin as the next Raiders coach to be fired and brings an underwhelming resume to the table. Cable was briefly a college offensive coordinator at both UCLA and Colorado, and led Idaho to an 11-35 record as head coach. He does have plenty of experience coaching offensive linemen and the Raiders' running game has at least been a strength.

Under Kiffin the Raiders' offense was extremely run-heavy, but that changed last week as the team attempted 37 passes versus 21 runs while nearly upsetting the Chargers. According to Davis the change came because Kiffin was forced to split play-calling duties with Greg Knapp, which along with Davis remarking that Kiffin was against drafting JaMarcus Russell suggests that more passing is ahead.

Whatever the case don't expect things to suddenly improve without Kiffin, who at least got the team to be competitive of late and went 5-15 (.250) after Art Shell, Norv Turner, and Bill Callahan combined to go 19-61 (.238) coaching Oakland in the previous five years. In other words, Kiffin was far from the main problem and has a good shot to win 10 games coaching somewhere before the Raiders do.

* Responding to widespread calls for Brady Quinn, Browns general manager Phil Savage gave Derek Anderson a pretty strong vote of confidence Monday, saying that he "still gives us our best chance to win" and "deserves the right to continue to try to fight and help our offense move the football." Anderson didn't do a whole lot of football moving Sunday, throwing for 138 yards, but did beat the Bengals.

Savage may still have some semblance of confidence in Anderson, but it sounds like coach Romeo Crennel's faith in him is nearly gone. Crennel admitted that he considered yanking Anderson in favor of Quinn in the third quarter, but "decided to give him another chance." Crennel did add that Anderson "took advantage of it and finished the game on a good note."

It seems unlikely that Savage would defend Anderson during the bye week if the Browns weren't planning to give him at least one more chance to start in Week 6, but clearly Quinn is on the verge of claiming the job. Unfortunately for Anderson he returns from the bye with four consecutive unfavorable matchups against the Giants, Redskins, Jaguars, and Ravens, so the deck is stacked against him.

* Explaining his decision to sit out Sunday night's game against the Bears, Brian Westbrook said Tuesday that his injured ankle felt fine running straight ahead in warmups, but gave him trouble cutting and moving laterally. "We warmed up and we tested it, but it just wasn't right," Westbrook said. "You'd hate to go out there and injure it more, and then be out two, three, four weeks."

Westbrook sat out Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday practices last week before being a game-time decision, so his participation this time around should reveal his status. Westbrook will likely be a game-time call again and if he sits Correll Buckhalter becomes a decent RB2 option given the matchup against a mediocre Redskins run defense and his 90 total yards with a touchdown last week.

Two-Minute Drill: As expected, coach Jim Haslett announced Tuesday that Marc Bulger will resume starting following the Rams' bye . After giving him 20 carries in Week 4 coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that Deuce McAllister will be a big part of the offense going forward, suggesting that Pierre Thomas is now third on the depth chart . Kevin Smith vented Tuesday after being benched in favor of Rudi Johnson, saying that he "didn't get the opportunity" and is "good enough to make as many plays as anyone on this offense" . Coach Wade Phillips said Tuesday that he regrets giving Marion Barber only eight carries while passing 47 times in Sunday's loss to the Redskins . Asked Tuesday about reports that he screamed at coaches to get him the ball more in Week 4, Vernon Davis said: "It was just me being me" . In one of the clearest "of course they did" moments of all time, the Bengals signed first-round bust/off-field mess Cedric Benson and he may back up Chris Perry in Week 5 . Ricky Williams revealed Tuesday that he was tempted to smoke marijuana during Miami's bye week, but "the urge didn't last very long."

Red Zone:Carson Palmer (elbow) reiterated Monday that he plans to suit up this week against the Cowboys, but it's worth noting that he said similar things before sitting out Sunday's game . Aaron Rodgers is reportedly hoping to play through a sprained shoulder this week, but whether he can practice Wednesday will likely reveal his exact status . If Rodgers is unavailable Sunday against the Falcons, Mike Flynn will get the start rather than rookie Brian Brohm . Bryant McKinnie returned Tuesday from his four-game suspension, which is good news for Adrian Peterson . Randy McMichael will miss at least eight weeks with a broken tibia and may end up on season-ending injured reserve, giving Joe Klopfenstein the chance to emerge as a TE2 option . With Rashard Mendenhall (shoulder) done for the season and Willie Parker (knee) ruled out for Week 5, the Steelers signed Najeh Davenport and may give him goal-line work this Sunday . Deion Branch (knee) looks likely to have at least a limited role in Week 5 after taking first-team reps in practice Tuesday . Tom Brady (knee) has chosen a surgeon and is set to go under the knife in Los Angeles soon, officially beginning his comeback.

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