Biggs: League looking into Raiders incident

What Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable called an “internal issue” on Monday turned into a league issue today when league spokesman Greg Aiello said NFL Security will begin investigating an altercation Aug. 5 involving assistant coach Randy Hanson.

APTom Cable

Cable and Hanson were in a meeting with other members of the team’s defensive staff when an argument ensued and Hanson suffered a facial injury that led to him seeking treatment at a hospital near training camp in Napa, Calif. Hanson’s jaw was X-rayed, according to a police report, but the extent of his injuries are not known. The National Football Post was told by multiple sources that the incident allegedly involved Cable and Hanson. A source with ties to Cable said that a heated discussion took place, but nothing was out of the ordinary and nothing occurred that would lead to injuries.

ESPN’s Mark Schlereth said Monday night that he spoke to Cable and was told that no punches were thrown during the incident. Schlereth was a player at the University of Idaho in the late 1980’s when Cable was a graduate assistant on the Vandals coaching staff. ESPN.com reported that former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, wrote on his Twitter account that “Cable took exception and went off on Hanson. Cable flipped Hanson's chair and Hanson hit his face on a cabinet. No punches were thrown.” That could still fall under the category of an assault, and now the league is stepping in.

“We’re looking into it to understand the facts,” Aiello said. “Normally, NFL Security will be involved and will contact the club. What the outcome will be and where it will go from here, we don’t know.”

Cable refused to address the issue with reporters after practice Monday. Hanson is not with the team at this time, and Napa police said they will not investigate the matter further unless Hanson comes forward to provide additional information regarding a suspect and potential witnesses. Hanson declined to name his attacker when he was interviewed at the hospital Aug. 6. It’s not known why Hanson didn’t cooperate with law enforcement at the time, but he has until early February to press charges.

The personal conduct policy in the NFL applies to all league employees, not just players. It states that discipline may be imposed for “violent or threatening behavior among employees whether in or outside the workplace.”

Hanson was suspended by then-Raiders coach Lane Kiffin early last season for insubordination. Reports in the Bay Area are that Hanson then aligned with owner Al Davis in the process that led to Kiffin’s firing. Kiffin cited ongoing legal issues with the Raiders via email in declining to comment to the NFP on Hanson. The defensive assistant is in his third year with the organization and previously worked in St. Louis and Minnesota. He is regarded by two coaches who previously worked with him as a tireless worker.

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