Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
ALAMEDA, Calif. ó The Oakland Raiders informed coach Tom Cable on Tuesday that they will not bring him back as coach next season even though he led them to their best record in eight years this season.
The Raiders announced their decision not to exercise a two-year, $5 million option on Cableís contract for 2011 and ë12, two days after wrapping up an 8-8 season that gave Oakland its first non-losing record since winning the 2002 AFC championship.
ěCoach Cable was informed the club would not be exercising its option for the 2011 season, and that heís free to seek employment elsewhere,î his agent, Don Yee, said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. ěTeams already have shown interest in Tom.î
The Raiders now begin their search for their sixth coach since Jon Gruden left for Tampa Bay following the 2001 season. Cable lasted longer than any of the previous five, with a 17-27 record since being promoted from offensive line coach to interim head coach early in the 2008 season after Lane Kiffin was fired.
Cable had wide support from his players, who credited him with helping make the team a contender in the AFC West this season after a run of seven straight years of at least 11 losses.
But that was not enough to persuade owner Al Davis to bring him back for a third full season. The Raiders could have waited two weeks to make this decision but acted quickly.
COWBOYS HIRE GARRETT
IRVING, Texas ó Jason Garrett nailed his audition. He gets to remain coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
Garrett was announced as the new head coach at a news conference at Cowboys Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
Team owner Jerry Jones peeled the interim label off Garrett and made him ó officially ó the eighth head coach in the history of this proud franchise. He’s the first head coach who also played for the Cowboys, as he was a backup to Troy Aikman in the 1990s.
Garrett made the choice easy for Jones by going 5-3 during his half-season in charge. He took over a club that had been 1-7 and was asked to merely make them competitive. He not only compiled a winning record, but his losses were by a total of seven points.
WADE TO TEXANS
HOUSTON ó Wade Phillips is finally coming home.
Phillips was hired as Houston’s new defensive coordinator on Wednesday, assigned to revamp a unit that dropped to the bottom of the league this season.
The former Dallas Cowboys coach has strong ties to the city and head coach Gary Kubiak. He grew up in the area and played linebacker at the University of Houston in the 1960s. He began his NFL coaching career in the late 1970s with the Houston Oilers, who were coached by his father, Bum. Kubiak was a ball boy for the Oilers back then, and the two have remained friends across 30 years.
HARBAUGH UPDATE
MIAMIó Two people with knowledge of the situation say Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh is set to meet Miami Dolphins officials in the San Francisco area.
Tony Sparano is still the Dolphins’ coach, but owner Stephen Ross flew to California to visit Harbaugh on Thursday. A day earlier, Harbaugh met with the San Francisco 49ers about their coaching vacancy.
MULARKEY SNUBS DENVER
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. ó Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey has canceled his interview with the Denver Broncos, who wanted to talk to him about their head coaching vacancy.
BYE, VINCE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ó Titans owner Bud Adams says it’s time to let Vince Young go and for the franchise to find its next quarterback.
The Titans released a statement Wednesday night in which Adams said Young won’t be on the team’s roster next season.
Adams is the owner who wanted Young drafted No. 3 overall out of Texas in 2006 and said on draft day that “VY is my guy.” But with his general manager and senior executive vice president traveling to Houston to meet with Adams on Monday, the 88-year-old owner decided Young no longer is the quarterback for his franchise.
Young is 30-17 in his five NFL seasons, but only 13-14 against teams finishing a season at .500 or better.