Former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel said Tuesday that he hasn't spoken with Raiders managing general partner Al Davis in recent days and that his name being linked to the Raiders coaching job is pure speculation.
"No, we haven't had any conversations," Fassel said in an interview on SIRIUS NFL Radio, "and the thing is, some of the things got blown out of proportion."
ESPN reported Sunday that Fassel sent a letter to Davis expressing his desire to replace current Raiders coach Tom Cable next season.
Raiders senior executive John Herrera said Tuesday that Davis is focused on the current season and hasn't solicited candidates to replace Cable. Davis fired Lane Kiffin on Sept. 30 and promoted Cable on an interim basis.
Fassel said he speaks with front-office people from teams around the league on a regular basis. He last coached in the NFL in 2006, when he was fired as the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator. He was the Raiders quarterbacks coach in 1995.
Fassel said he enjoyed his one season with the Raiders and worked well with Davis.
"He didn't interfere at all," Fassel said of Davis. "He treated me great. He paid me really good money. So I don't have the same problem that, maybe, other people do. I'm just going to see what jobs open up and who is interested in me. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work."
Notes: The Raiders released fullback Jason Davis and offensive/defensive lineman Fred Wakefield. The Wakefield move came about once he and the Raiders reached an injury settlement. The Raiders also signed free-agent guard Junius Coston, who spent the past three-plus seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Coston, 25, started seven games for the Packers last year.
Contact Steve Corkran at scorkran@bayareanewsgroup.com
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