LAST SEASON, Tuesday of the Raiders' bye week signaled the flamboyant end of Lane Kiffin's controversial coaching tenure.

Arguably, Tom Cable deserves the same fate today.

But Kiffin doesn't think so.

"Any head coach deserves a certain amount of time to get things going and install what he wants to install. Tom has not had enough time," Kiffin said by phone Monday from his office as the University of Tennessee's coach. "I would think he definitely should have another season after this, at least."

Really? Even after more assault allegations surfaced against Cable on Sunday, via ESPN's report pertaining to claims of two ex-wives and an ex-girlfriend?

"If any of that was accurate, that would surprise me," Kiffin added. "In my year-and-a-half with Tom, I never saw anything like that. I thought he was a first-class coach and a great person."

Lane Kiffin, character witness. Odds are that won't boost Cable's standing with Raiders patriarch Al Davis as he weighs another coaching change during another bye week.