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Peterson: Raiders' Cable soap opera shows no signs of ending
By Gary Peterson
Contra Costa Times columnist
Posted: 03/06/2010 07:04:52 PM PST
Updated: 03/07/2010 06:40:52 AM PST



Quick-and-easy assumption No. 1: Tom Cable remains the Raiders' head coach, based on the lack of any statement to the contrary from the team.

Quick-and-easy assumption No. 2: Cable remains resolutely skeptical of JaMarcus Russell's quarterbacking acumen, based on Cable's comments to reporters at the recently concluded NFL scouting combine.

"Let the (quarterback) job be competed for," Cable said. "I think that's where we're at in terms of our starting quarterback."

Cable didn't stop there, suggesting the Raiders could conceivably select a quarterback in next month's draft. And that was before the team tendered offers to restricted free agents Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye, who began last season as Russell's backups and wound up starting ahead of him in late-season games.

Quick-and-easy conclusion: The Raiders are laboring under a fundamental and XXXL-size conflict as they approach the heart of their offseason activity:

Owner Al Davis apparently still likes Russell, whom he drafted with the first overall pick in 2007.

Cable, based on what he has said, left unsaid and tucked between the lines, views Russell as an underachiever lacking in preparation and work ethic.

Russell remains a polarizing submediocrity until further notice, largely unsupported in the Raiders locker room and vilified by what's left of the fan base.

For those of you new to professional football, teams hardly ever operate in this manner.

Do u think that the raiders will ask JBust to take a pay cut since he will not be the starting QB? They should!