Cable’s potential legal issues a concern

In addition to enduring yet another difficult loss, the Oakland Raiders are bracing for the possibility that coach Tom Cable could be arrested soon in relation to an alleged assault on an assistant coach. Criminal charges against Cable could lead to a suspension by the league.

“Everybody is trying to figure out who’s going to take over if Tom isn’t here,” said an assistant coach, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “John MarshallJohn Marshall has a lot of experience, he’s probably the guy. But it’s nuts. It’s crazy when you start to really think about it.”

Although Napa Valley (Calif.) police have declined to comment on the investigation, NFL.com quoted the attorney for Raiders assistant coach Randy Hanson as saying that Hanson told police he had been assaulted by Cable on Aug. 5 while the Raiders were in training camp. Hanson was treated for a broken jaw and his attorney, San Francisco-based John McGuinn, said three other coaches, including Marshall, witnessed the attack.

McGuinn did not return three messages left by Yahoo!, but told NFL.com that the situation was “a textbook case of felony assault.”

Napa Valley police Commander Andy Lewis declined to discuss the matter, but defended the progress of the investigation even though no arrest had been made in nearly two months.

“I’m not going to address the case, but it’s not as simple as just making an arrest,” Lewis said. “You don’t know the issues involved with the case.”

If arrested, Cable could also face a suspension from the NFL for violation of the personal conduct policy. Under the policy, coaches and executives are held to the same standard, if not a higher one, than the players.

The Raiders, defeated 29-6 by the Houston Texans on Sunday, have played progressively worse through the season’s first four weeks. After a late-game loss in the opener to the San Diego Chargers, the Raiders struggled to beat the winless Kansas City Chiefs in the second game and have scored a total of nine points in their past two games.