In the happy aftermath of Sunday's victory at Kansas City, embattled Oakland Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin dropped a hint about his uncertain future with the team. He spotted a reporter, and before walking into a curtained-off part of the locker room said, "See you later . . . maybe."
A moment later, Kiffin poked his head back out, smiled and added: "If I don't, it's been good."
The writing is on the wall -- and in the newspapers -- Kiffin is on the way out, with more than one Bay Area publication citing unnamed club sources who say he is on the verge of being fired.
In recent months, when asked about some of the team's personnel moves, the coach has essentially shrugged and said such matters are out of his control, indicating owner Al Davis is calling the shots.
Reached Wednesday night, Kiffin said he was trying to move beyond the reports.
"All I can worry about is what I can control," he said. "We've got to keep this team together and we can't let any of these reports affect us. I think our staff did a great job of that last week, and our plan is to do that this week."
But he added: "I feel bad for our players. They've had to deal with these questions every day for four straight days. In the meantime, we're trying to get them focused on winning another road game this week."
The Oakland Tribune noted this week that Kiffin hasn't even been calling Davis by name lately, instead referring to him as simply "the owner." As a testament to their icy impasse, Kiffin and Davis didn't speak to each other on the flight home from Kansas City.
Even within the coaching staff, fissures have formed. After last season, it was widely reported that Kiffin wanted to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan but was rebuffed by Davis.
Last week, things got even stranger. After Oakland's embarrassing performance in its season-opening 44-14 loss to Denver, Kiffin was asked about defensive pressure. He essentially said he didn't play a role in deciding that, and the scheme was formulated each week by Davis and Ryan.
The next day, Ryan held an obscenity-laced news conference to refute what the head coach had said.
"I meet with Mr. Davis in the off-season," Ryan said. "That thing is just [baloney], and I want to make sure you got it right."
Ryan would be a leading candidate to replace Kiffin if and when the ax falls. Other potential successors on staff are offensive coordinator Greg Knapp and receivers coach James Lofton.
