NAPA, Calif. — The bizarre incident involving an Oakland Raiders coach allegedly assaulting another member of the coaching staff took a dramatic turn Thursday with a report that Raiders coach Tom Cable choked defensive assistant Randy Hanson and threatened his life.

Nationalfootballpost.com posted the story, citing unnamed sources, Thursday afternoon. The story also reported that Hanson has retained an attorney who will turn over medical records to Napa police on Friday showing Hanson’s jaw is broken.
According to the story, Cable attacked Hanson from behind while Hanson was engaged in a heated conversation with defensive coordinator John Marshall on Aug. 5.
Cable reportedly knocked Hanson out of his chair, up against a wall and into a cabinet during a meeting also attended by defensive backs coaches Willie Brown and Lionel Washington.
The story adds that Cable and Hanson fell to the floor, at which point Cable choked Hanson and said, “I am going to kill you! I am going to kill you!”
The other coaches pulled Cable off Hanson, but Cable went after Hanson again, according to the report.
Several Raiders officials refused to comment on the report. Cable answered four questions on the subject during his post-practice news conference.
“We’re still going to take care of it internally,” Cable said. “The one thing I will tell you is, when all the facts come out, everything will be fine.”
Napa Police Lt. Brian McGovern said his department hasn’t changed its stance on the case because it hasn’t heard from Hanson about turning over the medical records and pressing charges.
“If the victim were to come forward and indicate he wanted to pursue the case criminally, we would conduct an investigation which would include any potential witnesses,” McGovern said. “We’d gather that information, get it to the district attorney for review and determine if the case warranted the filing of charges.”
Reports of the incident first surfaced Monday. At that time, Cable said, “This is an internal issue that we are dealing with, and that’s all I’m going to say.” Before Thursday, his responses since have ranged from “nothing happened” to “no comment.” Cable also has declined to address Hanson’s status.
The nationalfootballpost.com story said Hanson no longer will be a coach on the field and won’t be at practice with the team.
The alleged assault took place in a room at the Napa Valley Marriott, where the Raiders conduct their training camp each summer.
Hanson sought treatment for a jaw injury Aug. 6, which prompted the Queen of the Valley Medical Center staff to notify the Napa Police Dept. of a possible assault victim, as required by law.
Police interviewed Hanson and were told by Hanson that he had been assaulted by another member of the Raiders coaching staff. Hanson refused to divulge his attacker’s name and opted against pressing charges. That apparently is about to change.
The nationalfootballpost.com report said Hanson has retained the services of San Francisco-based attorney John McGuinn.
McGuinn did not return a call seeking comment Thursday.
The Web site’s story said Hanson received follow-up treatment Wednesday night near his Livermore home. Another report said Hanson is hospitalized.
It’s possible that the person who attacked Hanson could be charged with aggravated assault under California law.
Numerous people from within the organization have identified Cable as the person who attacked Hanson. None of those people, though, was in the room when the attack occurred.
A phone call to Hanson at the Raiders’ year-round facility in Alameda was met with the following response: “He’s unavailable right now.” When reached Monday in Alameda by Bay Area News Group, Hanson said, “I can’t talk right now.” Hanson hasn’t been with the team in Napa since Aug. 5.
NFL senior vice president of public relations Greg Aiello said Tuesday that the league is investigating the matter.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has the authority under the league’s personal conduct policy to mete out discipline, even if there isn’t an arrest or a crime isn’t committed.
The policy applies to players, coaches, owners, game officials and other team employees. It states that teams are required to notify the league of any incidents that might be in violation.
At that point, the league and NFL security take over on a fact-finding mission. If someone is found guilty of violating the policy, he/she is subject to discipline by Goodell.
“Violent or threatening behavior among employees, whether in or outside the workplace” is one of the examples given as cause for discipline.
Raiders managing general partner Al Davis has not commented on the matter, though he has attended several training-camp practices, including the one Thursday.
The nationalfootballpost.com story said Davis met with Hanson in Alameda on Saturday and offered him one of three options: join the personnel department, break down film or do nothing but still get paid.
Hanson reportedly balked at the options because none involved coaching.
He reiterated his stance in a phone call from Davis on Sunday before hanging up on Davis, according to the Web site.
Davis hired Hanson in 2007 to be an assistant defensive backs coach.