KIFFIN DECLINES TO “STOOP TO [AL’S] LEVEL”

Former Raiders coach Lane Kiffin gave another interview on Wednesday, this one to Sirius NFL Radio. And he addressed in general terms his reaction to being fired, without addressing the specifics relating to the reasons for his termination, as spelled out in exhaustive detail by Raiders owner Al Davis on Tuesday. “I’m very appreciative of the opportunity and I’m not going to stoop to his level and start firing back,” Kiffin told Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan of Movin’ The Chains. “As crazy as it sounds, I felt bad for Al. I was embarrassed watching him up there. It was sad to see. But you have a real bad feeling in your stomach when things are being said like that about you, especially a number of false things being said. So it was very tough but a lot of support from people around the country came immediately after that. I think you guys figured it out pretty well by watching it and I don’t really need to comment on it.” Kiffin suggested that he likely won’t resurface with another NFL team. “I think the college route definitely could be a route we may end up going here,” Kiffin said. “We’ll see what comes available. Unfortunately, being fired, there’s a lot of emotion that goes into it and we’re not pleased by any means but it’s made me a lot better and it’s prepared me a lot better for the next job. It will make getting a college job easier from the standpoint of being able to interview and not continuing, in November and December, continuing to have to play games and coach at the Raiders.” Kiffin had been linked to the expected vacancy in Syracuse, but the fact that Davis is an alumnus and contributor could make that one a little dicey. It makes sense for Kiffin to target the college ranks. Even if he ultimately prevails in his grievance aimed at securing the balance of his contract, some owners might be skittish about hiring a guy who got himself into a knock-down/drag-out with Davis. And Kiffin’s reluctance to cite even a single specific fact to support his position that he didn’t breach his contract could prompt some owners to conclude that Kiffin has no meaningful response to the facts, and that his approach in the grievance process will be to argue that, even if he did was what he allegedly did, it does not constitute a breach of his contract.