Citing Kiffin's penchant for "propaganda" and lies, Davis, in a press conference that lasted more than an hour-and-a-half, minced no words.

"It's the first time I ever let anyone go based on what I call being a flat-out liar," Davis said.

With the dismissal for conduct, as opposed to performance, the Raiders are contending they don't plan to pay the reported $2.6 million remaining on Kiffin's contract.

The Raiders produced a letter that was sent to Kiffin from Davis on Sept. 12, asking him to stop acting in a manner detrimental to the organization with his comments to the press.

It was put on an overhead projector so Davis could go over it point-by-point and later circulated to the media.

Kiffin who was told of the firing over the phone, stopped to chat to reporters for a minute after returning to collect his belongings.

"I felt good about where our players are and that I left this team a lot better than when we got here and they're going to win a lot of games," Kiffin said. "We'll address all that tomorrow in our press conference, but I was able to see a number of (players) today and told them to hang in there. They're close to winning and they're going to win a lot of games."

Later, Kiffin's agent, Gary Uberstine, said there would be no press conference. Kiffin and representatives would take things straight to the commissioner. Kiffin did make an appearance on ESPN, where he refuted many of Davis' claims.

Kiffin said he watched the press conference with his wife, called it "hurtful" and said, "That's something I wasn't proud to be associated with. I was kind of embarrassed for him."

Things began to unravel for Davis and Kiffin last season when there were rumors of Arkansas being interested in hiring him as the head coach to replace Houston Nutt. They continued after a 4-12 season when Kiffin, Davis said, wanted to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and replace him with his father, Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.

Kiffin remained on the job, but began to take his problems public, making subtle jabs at Davis through the media regarding roster depth and making an issue of the salaries of players who were high-priced free agents that weren't producing.

Things came to a head after a 41-14 loss to Denver in Week 1, after which Kiffin distanced himself from defensive failings by saying the defense was run by Ryan in consultation with Davis.

With grievances and legal action still to come, the story is far from over, but it's been removed from the locker room. That's where Cable must work his magic with a 12-game trial run to see if he will be the Raiders coach of the future or simply the ninth coach in 15 years to be shown the door.

Cable was diplomatic regarding Kiffin.

"I have a friend who's lost a job," Cable said. "It's difficult in this business, but as we know, this is a business. It's time for us to move on."

Cable, 43, won't relinquish his job as a line coach. Last season, he transformed the NFL's 29th-ranked running game (94.9 yards per game) to No. 6 in the NFL (130.4). An offensive line that gave up 72 sacks reduced the number to 41.

"I'll coach the line," Cable said. "That's what I do. That's what I am."

Kiffin, in an ESPN interview, said Cable has a forceful personality and should do well.

"He has the personality to dominate the locker room," Davis said.

Cable was a successful line coach and offensive coordinator in college stops at Colorado (1998-99) and UCLA (2004-05). As head coach at Idaho from 2000 through 2003, his teams were prolific offensively but went 11-35.

"For me, it's been a great journey," Cable said. "Not always successes, by the record I have at Idaho. At the same time, not too many people move the ball like I did in college football ... I'm very confident in that way. Very, very confident."

Cable realizes as an interim coach he is essentially being given a shot on a trial basis.

"It means I've been given a great responsibility ... what it means is this -- we've got 12 games to play, starting in New Orleans, and all we're going to do is go out and play each one as if it's the most important thing on that day and try to be 1-0."