In a move typical of Al Davis and Oakland Raiders management, the team fired head coach Lane Kiffin on Tuesday.  In a move even more typical of Davis (see Shanahan, Mike), he had a press conference to announce that the firing was for cause, and that he would not honor the rest of Kiffin’s contract.

At the press conference, which was described by some as “rambling,” Davis called Kiffin a “professional liar,” showed the media a letter which apparently was sent to Kiffin on September 14th (apparently to refute that he and Kiffin had not spoken since before the season), claimed that Kiffin wanted to take the Arkansas head coaching job last season (that went to Bobby Petrino) and approached Davis in the off-season about getting out of his contract without financial penalty (which Davis said he agreed to, and even drew up a contract for), and that he had to take the blame for not firing him earlier, saying the “propaganda and lying” had “gone on for weeks and months and over a year.”

Basically, Davis confirmed that either the NFL needs to step in and force Davis to hire someone to run the organization for him (good luck), or Raiders fans can continue to count on the team not being very competitive until Al Davis dies.

The letter Davis showed the media is a classic case of Davis’s lack of comprehension as to the root of the problem.  In it, he apparently outlined several issues he had with Kiffin, including his unhappiness with both the coaching staff and the talent level of the squad – specifically quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

That’s the coaching staff that Kiffin tried to do some work to rebuild, as he wanted to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan during the offseason.  Davis would not let him–and, in fact, is rumored to have had Ryan report directly to Davis, rather than Kiffin.  The same Rob Ryan that led the defense that gave up leads in several games in which the Raiders led going into the 4th quarter under Kiffin.

And that’s the talent that Al Davis has largely been responsible for accumulating.  Talent like Javon Walker, DeAngelo Hall and Tommy Kelly, all given big money this offseason.  Talent like JeMarcus Russell, not getting a contract until mid-way through last season.

It’s tough to feel sorry for Kiffin in all of this–he had to know that he wouldn’t likely have much say in…well, anything going in.  Fortunately, he has taken a higher road than Davis in the situation, saying he “would not possibly attempt to refute all of Davis’ claims.”

“Just because you put something on paper doesn’t make it true,” Kiffin added. “There’s no way I’m about to get in an ‘I said, he said thing.’ “

Kiffin also told ESPN that he was embarrassed by the press conferenc.

“I had a real sick feeling watching it. It was just real pain,” Kiffin said. “I was kind of embarrassed for him.”