Mercifully, it's finally happened. Lane Kiffin has been fired as the Raiders head coach. This actually seemed inevitable that it would happen today because last night Al Davis was interviewing candidates to replace Kiffin.

Offensive line coach (huh?) Tom Cable has reportedly been made the new head coach.

Anyway, Kiffin lasted four games more than Art Shell's single season in 2006 and matched Mike Shanahan's run in 1987-88. Something tells me Kiffin thinks as highly of Davis as Shanahan does at this point in time.

Now here's the interesting tidbit surrounding Kiffin's firing. Kiffin is still owed $3.5 million because he was fired and didn't resign. But via Pro Football Talk, Chris Mortensen has said that Davis has told Kiffin he won't pay him any of the remainder of his salary.

While I often make fun of Mortensen for getting stories wrong, I know he's correct here. Davis has planned on not paying Kiffin once he fired him for a while now. So what's Davis's argument going to be? He'll claim insubordination on Kiffin's part. Basically, insubordination constitutes Kiffin being pretty vocal while he was getting jerked around as head coach of the Raiders. I didn't know telling telling the truth was considered insubordination, but you learn something new every day.

Naturally, this thing will be going to court, which seems to be where everything for the Raiders ends these days.

Just so you know, Mike Shanahan never got paid in full by Davis either. And as we all know, Shanahan has made it a point to humiliate the Raiders every time he plays them. I'm not sure Kiffin will ever get that chance, but if he does, you sure as hell can expect more of the same.

And on top of all this, the Raiders are a ridiculously awful 19-63 since their 2002 Super Bowl appearance. As much as I hate to say it, don't expect that to change until Al Davis gives up control of the team (which won't happen) or kicks the bucket.

Raiders fire Kiffin [SFGate]