Gutierrez: Cable has history with Indy

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Dec. 22, 2010GUTIERREZ ARCHIVERAIDERS PAGERAIDERSVIDEOPaul Gutierrez
CSNCalifornia.com

ALAMEDA - Calling this weekends meeting at the Coliseum a Revenge Game for Tom Cable might be taking things a bit far. But there is a history between the Raiders coach and Indianapolis. Cable, you see, was a short-lived replacement player for the Colts during the 1987 NFL strike.I was just glad to be there, Cable said Wednesday when I asked him his memories of suiting up for Indianapolis.
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A strange time, then, what with so much animosity from the established players towards the replacements, who crossed picket lines to fill out rosters for three weeks? Some replacement teams were derisively referred to as the Masque-Raiders, the Scab-skins and the SpareBears.No, you have to remember, guys who were playing during that time were just looking for opportunities, Cable added. Kind of a blessed time. You were getting an opportunity that you probably didnt have. Most every one of us had been cut prior to that. So that kind of ended your hopes of being a professional football player. The strike gave you one more opportunity.Wearing No. 63 as an offensive lineman and listed at 6-feet-3, 273 pounds, Cable suited up for two gamesthe Colts 47-6 blowout of Buffalo on Oct. 4, 1987, and their 6-0 defeat of the Jets at the Hoosier Dome a week laterbut never got into a game.A week later, his NFL experience as a player was done. So no fond feelings for the Colts?
I was coaching already, Cable said. I was already a (graduate assistant) at Idaho. So yeah, I was thankful at the time, but that was a long time ago.What'syour take? Email Pauland let him know. He may use it in his Mailbag.

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