I’ve stayed out of formulating opinions regarding the alleged altercation (we still have to call it alleged, don’t we?) between Tom Cable and Randy Hanson for the simple reason that I really don’t know what happened in that room.
My stance hasn’t changed since Aug. 22 _ that the Cable and the Raiders made some obvious errors in the handling of a crisis but that convicting him in the court of public opinion was premature until the facts were in.
So I’ve passed along the various reports, many of which implicate Cable and seem to originate from Hanson and his attorney, as well as the latest which hint maybe no charges will be filed at all. On the heels of Profootballtalk.com’s report Thursday comes another Yahoo! Sports report (with unnamed sources, of course) saying the case may be flimsy.
A couple of things worth addressing in the latest report:
— Hanson’s attorney, John McGuinn, said he thought the city of Napa and district attorneys office was dragging its feet because they didn’t want to lose the Raiders business.
Really?
Napa is an international vacation destination in the heart of the wine country. Virtually any day I’ve spent at training camp at the Napa Marriott would include overhearing people speaking foreign languages heading out the door to various wineries and tours.
They don’t know who the Raiders are and don’t care.
The next banner I see which says, “Napa: Training camp home of the Raiders” will be the first.
Other than upkeep of the field at Redwood Middle School, it’s not like Napa is making anything off the Raiders presence. There is no benefit golf tournament, no public appearances. It’s not the old days when the Raiders were out filling restaurants and bars on a nightly basis. They’re pretty much sequestered in the hotel, and it’s a typically private Raiders operation.
There was a time a few years back when a Napa Marriott employee told me they’d be just fine if the Raiders ended their agreement. The hotel was filling up to capacity anyway, and they were charging more per room for guests than the deal negotiated by the club.
Admittedly, that may not be true now, given the economy, but the only business which would be hurt by the Raiders leaving would be the hotel. It’s not as if there would be a city-wide effect from the departure of a fairly invisible tentant for one month a year.
There is no leverage there.
— Having Bill Romanowski hint that Hanson has a drug problem on KNBR’s Murph and Mac show was both reckless and comical at the same time.
Think about it for a minute. Romanowski, the guy who broke the face of Marcus Williams and has admitted to pushing the envelope regarding performance enhancing drugs, giving commentary on an assault investigation and leveling accuasations of drug use.
That’s a pot calling the kettle silver and black.
Friday practice _ no changes
As practice began following warmups and drills Friday, still no sign of Robert Gallery _ he won’t be playing, while Chaz Schilens was on the field for the third straight day.
Cable’s public stance has been that Schilens could play. Schilens himself seemed a bit skeptical Thursday.
Also missing again is Luke Lawton (ankle), the only pure fullback on the roster as the Raiders face the most blitz-heavy team in the NFL.
