A reader has passed along to us a list of the worst bosses from 2009, as compiled by eBossWatch.com.
At No. 7? Raiders coach Tom Cable.
“Numerous eyewitnesses saw Cable punch an assistant coach at the Raiders training camp in August,” the site says under Cable’s name. “The assistant coach suffered a broken jaw from the attack.”
The characterization isn’t quite accurate. The eyewitnesses (other than Randy Hanson, the guy who allegedly was punched) reportedly corroborated Cable’s version of the events, explaining to authorities that there was no punch. As a result, no charges were filed.
Still, we point out Cable’s ranking on the list because it further demonstrates the disconnect between the NFL and the rest of the business world. In any other workplace, if the boss calls a meeting and one of the employees come out of the meeting with a broken face, the boss faces a hell of a lot more scrutiny and jeopardy than what Cable faced from the Raiders or from the NFL.
Though Cable still may find himself in trouble depending on the outcome of the pending lawsuit filed by Hanson, the reality is that the Raiders, as part of their own defense to the case, will adopt and accept as true Cable’s contentions, making it harder to later accuse Cable of assault and fire him for cause (as owner Al Davis would love to do, since it cuts off the employee right to ongoing pay) if/when a jury finds in Hanson’s favor.
