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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, October 23, 2009

Raiders' coach won't face assault charge


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Tom Cable

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NAPA, Calif. — Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable won't face charges after being investigated over allegations that he assaulted one of his assistants, ending a two-month saga that was a cloud over the team's season.

Napa County district attorney Gary Lieberstein said yesterday that the investigation concluded no charges were warranted.

"Our duty is to do the right thing for the right reasons," Lieberstein said. "Under the facts and circumstances of this case, it would be a miscarriage of justice to pursue criminal charges and we will not ask our citizens to give up their valuable time for jury duty, nor will we allow our criminal justice system to be compromised."

Cable has denied the charges from the beginning and said shortly before the district attorney's announcement that he trusted in the legal system. Cable said he does not intend to speak to the media again until today.

"The Raider organization waited patiently for a comprehensive legal process to conclude and now this matter has been resolved," Raiders spokesman Mike Taylor said. "Our focus has been and remains on the New York Jets."

Commissioner Roger Goodell said last week that criminal charges need not be brought against Cable for the NFL to discipline him if he broke the league's conduct rules.

"We will review the decision announced earlier today by the Napa District Attorney and the facts developed in the underlying investigation," the league said in a statement yesterday. "Following that review, we will take appropriate action, if any, under our policies."

The alleged attack occurred at the team's training camp hotel on Aug. 5 in Napa, after Cable called Randy Hanson into a meeting with defensive coordinator John Marshall and defensive backs coaches Lionel Washington and Willie Brown.

Hanson told Yahoo! Sports this month that Cable came up from behind him and knocked him out of his chair. Hanson said he broke his jaw and cracked two teeth after hitting a table. Hanson also alleged that Cable threatened to kill him before the other coaches pulled him away.

ELSEWHERE

Chargers: San Diego had numerous players miss practice as they continue preparations for Sunday's game at Kansas City.

Running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Jacob Hester, wide receiver Buster Davis and linebacker Jyles Tucker were unable to practice yesterday. "We have a little bit of the flu going around," said coach Norv Turner.

Dolphins: Miami linebacker Matt Roth was back on the sideline again yesterday, this time with a left ankle injury.

Roth, who sat out all of training camp and the first five games because of a groin injury, hurt himself practicing for the first time this season Wednesday. He ruled out his chances of playing Sunday against New Orleans.

Jets: Coach Rex Ryan benched two players for New York's next game because of their "selfish" actions in a scuffle with Buffalo's Derek Fine.

Safety James Ihedigbo and linebacker Marques Murrell were each fined $5,000 by the NFL, and Ryan plans to make both players inactive and not travel to Oakland for Sunday's game.

Steelers: Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu didn't practice for the second straight day while he heals from a left knee injury.

Polamalu is not believed to have had a setback in his rehabilitation, and he's expected to play Sunday against Minnesota as long as he practices today. Normally, the Steelers require a player to practice only once in advance of a game.

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