If Pete Carroll ever returns to the NFL, it’s safe to assume that it won’t be as head coach of the Raiders.

Though the chances of Carroll or any coach of similar ilk wanting the job falling somewhere between extremely slim and “none and void,” Carroll has burned that bridge by torching owner Al Davis for his Tuesday assault on former USC assistant coach Lane Kiffin.

“I couldn’t really be more disappointed for the game of football.  I thought today was really a dark moment,” Carroll said. “To go to that level . . . hurts football, the NFL and coaching.  It wasn’t necessary at all.

“The owner gets to do what he wants.  He made his choice, and there’s nothing wrong with that.  I don’t fault anything there.  But just the manner of all the finger pointing and the name calling.  It was not informed, and it seemed out of touch.  I thought it was unfortunate that it came down like that.”

Of course, Carroll isn’t objective or unbiased.  Kiffin is his guy.  And the perception that Kiffin failed in Oakland (coupled with the perception that Reggie Bush has underachieved in New Orleans and that Matt Leinart has flopped in Arizona and that Mike Williams has washed out of the league and that Dwayne Jarrett has disappeared in Carolina) diminishes Carroll’s overall reputation in football.

But objectivity seems to be a real challenge on when it comes to Al Davis.  People are either predisposed to loving him or hating him, with a lot more falling into the latter category.  We were predisposed on Tuesday to witnessing a train wreck, and were kind of hoping for one to unfold.  Instead, we were impressed by the passion and the clarity (for the most part) of the Raiders owner’s remarks. 

And if Carroll feels so badly for Kiffin, let’s see if Carroll offers to bring him back immediately to USC, and to re-install him as co-offensive coordinator with Steve Sarkisian.  If Carroll doesn’t publicly make such an offer, what message does that send about Carroll’s true feelings on Kiffin?