NFL | Raiders to evaluate allegations made against coach Cable

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Oakland Raiders officials said they will undertake a "serious evaluation" of allegations coach Tom Cable has a history of violent behavior toward women.

The team released a statement in response to allegations made to ESPN by Cable's first wife, Sandy Cable, and former girlfriend, Marie Lutz, that the coach physically abused them at various times during their relationships.

Cable, 44, a former Snohomish High School player, acknowledged striking Sandy Cable with an open hand in a statement Sunday. Cable said the altercation happened more than 20 years ago and was the only time he has touched a woman inappropriately. He stood by that statement Monday, declining to answer questions on the topic.

"In conjunction with the league office, we will undertake a serious evaluation of this matter," the team said in a statement. "We wish to be clear that we do not in any way condone or accept actions such as those alleged. There have been occasions on which we have dismissed Raider employees for having engaged in inappropriate conduct."

This is at least the second series of allegations against Cable accusing him of violence. Former defensive assistant Randy Hanson accused Cable of assaulting him and breaking his jaw during training camp. The Napa County district attorney declined to file charges in that matter last month.

When asked about his future, Cable replied: "I'm coaching the Raiders and I think my future is to be the coach of the Raiders."

Chiefs soften

suspension

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs, apparently fearful of losing in arbitration, agreed to cut Larry Johnson's suspension in half for making gay slurs.

The agreement saved the running back about $315,000. The Chiefs issued an announcement saying they made the settlement in conjunction with the NFL Management Council and the NFL Players Association.

Earlier, they suspended the 29-year-old Johnson for two weeks, which would have cost him about $630,000.

Browns GM exits

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns are without a general manager after George Kokinis left the team under unexplained circumstances.

After reports surfaced Kokinis was fired, the team issued an awkwardly worded statement saying the GM "is no longer actively involved with the organization." The Browns also denied reports Kokinis was escorted from team headquarters.

Kokinis' apparent ouster came one day after owner Randy Lerner said he wanted to hire a "strong, credible, serious" football adviser to help run his struggling team that is 1-7. Kokinis was hired Jan. 23, about two weeks after the Browns named Eric Mangini as their fourth coach since 1999.

As for replacements for Kokinis, one possibility could be Ernie Accorsi, who was Cleveland's GM from 1985 to 1992, when the Browns went to three AFC Championship Games with Bernie Kosar at quarterback. Kosar recently was brought in by Lerner to serve in a consulting role.

Notes

• Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre's return to Green Bay was must-see viewing. Fox's national game Sunday, which was mainly the Vikings' 38-26 victory over the Packers, was the network's second-most-watched Sunday telecast since it started airing league games in 1994, with 29.8 million viewers. The record is 32.1 million for San Francisco -Dallas in 1995.

Sunday's game drew a 17.4 rating, up 26 percent from the comparable window last year.

• Commissioner Roger Goodell plans to ask Congress for legislation that would protect collective-bargaining agreements from state-law challenges, such as the one in Minnesota that led to blocking the suspensions of two Vikings defensive linemen — Pat Williams and Kevin Williams — who tested positive for banned substances.