The National Organization for Women is urging a suspension of Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable in light of allegations he has a history of abusive behavior against women.
"Tom Cable's history of violence against women raises a question: why is he still the head coach of an NFL team? Mr. Cable admits having battered his first wife, and he stands accused of battering two other intimate partners as well," NOW president Terry O'Neill said in a statement.
On Monday, the Raiders said they had a plan for a "serious evaluation" into allegations that Cable assaulted women during past relationships. The allegations came to light during an episode of ESPN's "Outside the Lines" on Sunday. In interviews with the network, Sandy Cable and Marie Lutz allege Cable hit them during relationships.
Lutz, who was Cable's girlfriend as recently as this January, told the network she was hit three or four times.
Sandy Cable, who was Tom's first wife, told ESPN the Raiders coach was physically abusive for much of the time during their six-year marriage. That included an incident in 1988 when Sandy Cable told ESPN that Tom punched her in the jaw.
"As a survivor of domestic violence, I know that women do not make such accusations lightly," O'Neill continued. "Indeed, women have much more to lose than to gain by coming forward to tell their stories. The Oakland Raiders, properly, say they are undergoing a 'serious evaluation' of these recent allegations. At the very least Mr. Cable should be suspended during this process. But I don't understand why he doesn't simply step down, admit he has a problem, and get some help. A man who had admitted battering his wife has no business being a role model for all of us who would like to be able to look up to the head coach of an NFL football team."
This is the second controversy within the last couple of months surrounding Cable and his alleged off-the-field aggression. On October 22, the Napa County district attorney's office announced it would not file criminal charges against Cable for allegedly assaulting an assistant coach.
Cable was accused of attacking assistant Randy Hanson at a meeting while the team was staying at the hotel during training camp. Hanson was treated at a local hospital for a fractured jaw, although he elected not to say who assaulted him when questioned by authorities.
However, Hanson told at least one national media outlet that Cable came from behind and knocked him out of a chair. That's when Hanson claimed he broke his jaw.
However, the DA's office said other coaches stepped in during an altercation and there was no direct contract between Cable and Hanson.
The Raiders are 2-6 this season under the 44-year-old Cable, who took over the job as head coach in the middle of the 2008 season. Oakland has a bye this week and doesn't play until November 15 at home against Kansas City.
Last year, the Raiders fired Lane Kiffin as their head coach during the bye week.
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