ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Raiders are denying what appears to be inevitable.
ESPN and NFL.com reported Wednesday the Raiders have decided the “interim” tag on head coach Tom Cable would be removed.
However, Raiders senior executive John Herrera said: “We have not made a decision at this time. That’s really all I can say.”
ESPN reported the Raiders told one of the other job candidates of the decision to go with Cable, while reported Raiders owner Al Davis had started telling others around the league of his decision.
Meanwhile, the Raiders hired Paul Hackett as quarterbacks coach and Dwaine Board to mentor the defensive line.
• Recently fired Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Bob Sanders has joined the Buffalo Bills as their defensive line coach.
Bowden gets extension
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Bobby Bowden signed a one-year contract to coach a 34th season at Florida State. He will be paid just under $2.5 million, the same as last year.
Monty to captain Ryder Cup
LONDON — Colin Montgomerie was named European captain for the Ryder Cup next year in Wales. The surly Scotsman was picked over Jose Maria Olazabal, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam. Corey Pavin will lead the U.S. team.
Footnotes.
With about a month to go before the perjury trial of former San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds gets underway, federal agents raided the Menlo Park, Calif., home of the mother- in-law of Bonds’ personal trainer Greg Anderson, ramping up the pressure on the reluctant Anderson to testify when the trial begins March 2.
Mark Geragos, Anderson’s lawyer, called the tactic “a blatant attempt at intimidation.” He added, “Even the Mafia spares the women and children.”
• Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace had a partially collapsed left lung and fractured a rib late in Tuesday’s double-overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. No timetable for his return was available.
• Boston Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine will miss a week to 10 days after suffering his second concussion in three days.
• Former welterweight titleholder Antonio Margarito had his license suspended by the California State Athletic Commission while it investigates a plaster-like substance found under the boxer’s hand wraps before his loss last weekend to Shane Mosley.
• Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton formally agreed to fight for Hatton’s 140-pound title May 2.
• David Beckham is enjoying his stay with AC Milan so much he said he is considering remaining in Italy after his two-month loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy expires.
• A.J. Allmendinger will drive the No. 44 Dodge for Richard Petty Motorsports in the season-opening Budweiser Shootout and at least the first eight NASCAR Sprint Cup races this season.
• ESPN’s top executive told employees he’s instituting a hiring freeze and won’t give any raises to top executives as one of television’s most successful enterprises feels the effect of the economy.
The Associated Press
