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NFL Capsules: Two women accuse Raiders coach of violent behavior
Comments 0 | Recommend 0NEW YORK — The former wife of Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable and a recent girlfriend claim Cable has a history of violent behavior toward women, and asked that he seek help for his anger.
Sandy Cable and Marie Lutz said in seperate interviews on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" that the first-year head coach physically abused them at various times during their relationships.
Cable's attorney, Donald Yee, said in a statement Sunday that ESPN refused to provide details about the story when the network asked for comment. Yee also questioned the network's motives after waiting until Friday to contact the coach.
"In our view, ESPN has quite purposefully chosen not to provide a fair and balanced story," Yee said. "To us, this represents ambush journalism and utterly fails to meet the standards and practices of responsible journalists."
ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said the network stands by its story.
"We've got nothing to say right now," Raiders senior executive John Hererra said before the Raiders played at San Diego.
Cable acknowledged striking Sandy Cable with an open hand in a statement released to The Associated Press. Cable said the altercation happened more than 20 years ago and was the only time he's ever touched a woman inappropriately.
"During my first marriage, I became aware that my wife Sandy had committed adultery," Cable said in the statement. "I became very angry and slapped her with an open hand. What I did was wrong and I have regretted and felt sorrow about that moment ever since."
Lutz told ESPN that she remembers Cable hitting her "three, four times," and said that she visited his house in January and found another woman there. Lutz said she demanded to meet the woman and that Cable grabbed her by the arm and eventually pushed her out the door.
Cable said that Lutz had come over uninvited, and that he cooperated with an investigation by the Alameda Police Department that cleared him of any wrongdoing.
"I never battered her in any way," Cable said. "It is most unfortunate that ESPN has given Ms. Lutz this forum to revisit this incident when I did nothing wrong and further chose not to provide me with an appropriate opportunity to respond."
The 44-year-old Cable, a former Raiders offensive line coach, took over as head coach when Lane Kiffin was fired four weeks into the 2008 season.
His on-field struggles as he tries to rebuild the once-proud franchise have been mirrored by off-field problems, including an argument in August in which Oakland assistant coach Randy Hanson accused Cable of breaking his jaw during a coaches meeting.
Napa County district attorney Gary Lieberstein decided not to pursue charges last month.
The NFL had been considering whether to discipline Cable under the league's personal conduct policy, which specifically identifies workplace violence. League spokesman Greg Aiello said the revelations on the "Outside the Lines" report would also be considered.
"We will carefully review these matters in conjunction with the Raiders and consistent with our personal conduct policy," Aiello said.
Bears honor Payton at halftime
CHICAGO — Ten years to the day he died, Walter Payton was honored by the Chicago Bears with a ceremony at halftime of Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns.
The crowd roared during a video tribute that showed highlights of his career and included praise from Mike Ditka and owner Virginia McCaskey, along with former teammates such as Otis Wilson and Richard Dent. Besides dodging and leaping over defenders, Payton was also known for his work ethic and his tendency to pull pranks.
The video showed that, too.
There was Payton running up a hill in suburban Barrington and setting off a firecracker at training camp, as he was known to do. When the tribute was over, his wife Connie asked the crowd, "Wasn't that awesome?"
Flanked by their son Jarrett and daughter Brittney, Connie Payton ended her brief speech by saying, "We love you. And one more thing: Go Bears!"
The NFL's all-time leading rusher when he retired, Payton was first diagnosed with a rare liver disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis and then cancer before he died on Nov. 1, 1999.
Jets' Rhodes, Dolphins players in pregame skirmish
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Jets safety Kerry Rhodes and a few Miami Dolphins players got into a shoving match on the field about a half-hour before the teams' game.
With both teams warming up on the field Sunday, Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter appeared to say something that Rhodes took exception to. Rhodes, near the Jets' sideline on the Dolphins' end of the field, went over to Porter and shoved him. Porter shoved back as other players got involved, including Jason Taylor, and Rhodes then took a swipe at Dolphins linebacker Cameron Wake before the players were separated.
The incident is the latest in a heated rivalry that was reignited in the offseason when Jets coach Rex Ryan and Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder had a playful war of words.
Wilson receives HOF ring
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bills owner Ralph Wilson has received his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring in a halftime ceremony during Buffalo's game against the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Wilson, who was inducted into the Hall in August, was awarded the seventh AFL franchise in October 1959.
Hall of Fame president and executive director Stephen Perry presented Wilson his ring at midfield.
"In all my exciting years, I've given out some rings but I've never gotten one," Wilson said before telling the fans that, "I still want to reward you with a Super Bowl."
Injuries
Lions' Stafford in and Calvin Johnson out vs. Rams
DETROIT — Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was active and receiver Calvin Johnson was out against the St. Louis Rams.
Dennis Northcutt replaced Johnson in Detroit's lineup Sunday.
Stafford missed two games with an injured right knee. He was able to rest last week because Detroit had a bye.
The No. 1 pick in the NFL draft threw three touchdowns and six interceptions in his first four games. He helped the Lions win in Week 3 win against Washington to end their 19-game losing streak.
Johnson did not play in the Lions' previous game, a 26-0 loss at Green Bay, after injuring his right knee Oct. 11 against the Steelers. He has 22 receptions for 325 yards receiving and a TD this year. Last season, Johnson had 12 TD receptions.
The Rams were without starting right guard Richie Incognito, as expected. He injured his right foot last week when St. Louis lost to Indianapolis and extended its losing streak to 17. Adam Goldberg moved from right tackle to guard, putting Jason Smith back in the lineup. Smith started the first two games of the season. The No. 2 pick in the draft then missed two games with an injured left knee and was a backup in the previous three games.
St. Louis had David Vobora at linebacker in place of Larry Grant. Vobora practiced Wednesday for the first time since a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. The second-year player has said he plans to file a lawsuit, claiming he took supplements that he checked on through the NFL hot line.
Eagles RB Westbrook out vs. Giants
PHILADEPHIA — Eagles running back Brian Westbrook was inactive for Sunday's game against the Giants after suffering a concussion in last week's win.
Westbrook has only 197 yards rushing this season. He didn't practice all week after he was knocked unconscious in the Eagles' 27-17 win over Washington on Monday night when he took a knee to his head.
Other notable inactives for the Eagles are safety Macho Harris (ankle), receiver Kevin Curtis (knee) and defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee).
Giants cornerback Aaron Ross (hamstring) and receiver Mario Manningham (shoulder) were among their inactives.
Manningham hurt his left shoulder on the last play of practice Thursday. He was held out of the team's final workout. He has started six of seven games this season, catching 28 passes for 439 yards and four touchdowns.
Browns K Dawson active against Bears
CHICAGO — Cleveland Browns kicker Phil Dawson is active Sunday against the Chicago Bears after missing five weeks with a strained left calf.
Dawson, tied for second with Don Cockroft on the Browns' career field goal list with 216, has not played since Sept. 20. He has made all four attempts this year.
Billy Cundiff, who filled in for Dawson, was inactive, and tight end Robert Royal (hamstring, finger) missed his fourth game.
The Bears are not missing any key players, but did shake up their lineup. Besides having defensive tackle Tommie Harris back after coach Lovie Smith held him out last week against Cincinnati, they went with Marcus Harrison over Anthony Adams at nose tackle, and had Hunter Hillenmeyer at middle linebacker, with Nick Roach moving to the strong side. On offense, Josh Beekman started at left guard over Frank Omiyale.
Arizona's Boldin leaves game with ankle injury
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin left Sunday's game against Carolina in the third quarter after aggravating his sprained right ankle.
Boldin, who had been questionable for the game, was helped from the field with 8:53 to play in the third. Before he left, he caught two passes to pass Larry Centers and become the Cardinals' career leader in receptions.
49ers LT Staley injured
INDIANAPOLIS — San Francisco left tackle Joe Staley sprained his right knee on the first play Sunday against the Colts, and his return was doubtful.
Staley has started every game of his three-year career. Barry Sims stepped in for him.
The 49ers already have lost right tackle Tony Pashos for the season with a broken left shoulder blade. Pashos was hurt during last week's 24-21 loss at Houston.
San Francisco coach Mike Singletary has called the offensive line his biggest area of concern.
Browns LB Barton injures shoulder
CHICAGO — Cleveland Browns linebacker Eric Barton injured his right shoulder late in the second quarter Sunday against the Chicago Bears and was questionable to return.
Barton was injured tackling Chicago's Greg Olsen on a 12-yard pass that put the ball on the Browns 14 and stayed down for a few minutes before walking off the field. The Bears' Matt Forte capped that drive with a 1-yard touchdown run that made it 16-0 with just under two minutes left in the half.
The Bears, meanwhile, lost special teams player Craig Steltz to an arm injury on a punt early in the third quarter. It was not clear which arm he injured.
Carolina QB Delhomme injured against Cardinals
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme left the game against the Arizona Cardinals with a chest injury.
Delhomme went down on a big hit from the Cardinals' Chike Okeafor and Darnell Dockett with 5:59 left in the third quarter.
He came back to play the next series but was replaced by Matt Moore in the fourth quarter.
Carolina's Hoover carted off field with leg injury
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Carolina fullback Brad Hoover hurt his right ankle and was carted off the field in Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Hoover was hurt in the waning seconds of the third quarter. He sat up in the cart with his right leg propped up as he was taken from the field.
Player Moves
Jamal Lewis plans to retire after season
CHICAGO — Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis plans to retire at the end of the season.
Lewis told reporters after the Browns' 30-6 loss Sunday at Chicago that his 10th season will be his final one, adding, "When I talk, I mean what I say and I think you all know that."
Lewis, who missed two games in late September and early October with a hamstring injury, ran for 69 yards on 16 carries against the Bears. That gave him 349 this year and 10,456 in his career, helping Baltimore win the Super Bowl as a rookie during his seven seasons with the Ravens.
He served prison time while with them in 2005 for using a cell phone to set up a drug buy five years earlier, and besides the off-the-field issues, there were questions about his durability and speed when he signed with Cleveland before the 2007 season.
Lewis answered those by running for 1,304 yards that year, his best since leading the NFL with 2,066 in '03. He followed that by going for 1,002 last season, the seventh time he reached the 1,000-yard mark, and with the lowly Browns at 1-7, his career appears to be coming to an end.
"It is very hard," he said. "Very. I think this is my last year. I think this is it. Honestly, the way it looks, you know, I had a good run."
Lewis acknowledged that finishing with the Browns stuck in a miserable season is not the easiest way to go out.
"But at the same time, I stuck my neck out and wanted to come in and help and do what I could do, even though I knew the consequences," he said. "I knew what we had and what was going to go with it, being that you do have new people coming in, new coaches, new staff, and all that — there's a lot that comes with that."
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