Cable latest to interview in San Fran
The San Francisco 49ers interviewed Seattle Seahawks offensive line coach and former Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable for their coaching vacancy yesterday.
Team CEO Jed York met with Cable as part of his search for replacements for fired coach Chip Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke following a 2-14 season that tied the worst mark in franchise history.
Cable coached a line that struggled this season in Seattle, but he helped the Seahawks develop a strong running game his first five seasons. He also has head coaching experience, having taken the reins as interim coach after Lane Kiffin was fired four games into the 2008 season in Oakland.
Cable kept the job after that and finished with a 17-27 record in twoplus seasons. He was fired after 2010, despite leading the Raiders to an 8-8 record that was their best in eight years.
Cable does come with baggage. In Oakland, Cable was accused of punching assistant coach Randy Hanson and breaking his jaw during an argument in 2009. No criminal charges were filed and a civil case was eventually settled.
The 49ers have the only coach opening left in the NFL after the other five vacancies have all been filled. The only other candidates remaining besides Cable are Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, both of whom are in conference championship games.
Williams leaning return
Despite concerns raised after sustaining season-ending neck injuries in consecutive years, Bills starting safety Aaron Williams is preparing to resume his playing career, the player’s father told The Associated Press.
“We’ll take it slow and go from there,” Anthony Williams said.
Williams was more definitive in a note posted on his Twitter account earlier in the day. In referring to Buffalo’s hiring of new head coach McDermott, Anthony Williams wrote: “Excited about the new HC (head coach) and Aaron coming back to be part of the team that finally brings playoffs and a SB (Super Bowl) to the deserving BLO fans.”
Aaron Williams’ future has been in question since he was sidelined by a blindside hit to the head by Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry in Buffalo’s 28-25 loss at Miami on Oct. 23. Williams was briefly hospitalized and placed on season-ending injured reserve.
The sixth-year player’s 2015 season was cut short after being hurt attempting to make a diving headfirst tackle. Williams missed the final 11 games of that season and had neck surgery during which doctors shaved two disks to alleviate nerve damage.