Oakland Raiders coach Dennis Allen can breathe a sigh of relief. He's keeping his job.
Raiders owner Mark Davis confirmed with multiple outlets late Tuesday night that Allen will be back as coach for the 2014 season. Davis told Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times that Tuesday's meeting with Allen "went well" and the coach would return for his third season.
"There hasn't been a question about it either," Davis said in reference to Allen's job status.
The shape of Allen's staff should be clarified in the coming days. NFL Media columnist Michael Silver wrote that the Raiders were offering Allen's assistants only one-year contract extensions, against the urging of Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie. Silver noted Sunday that offensive assistant Tony Sparanocould leave to join Tampa's staff. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport added Wednesday morning that it's likely Sparano leaves to become the Buccaneers' offensive line coach, per a source informed of the Raiders' situation.
Allen just has won eight games in two seasons as head coach, but he's done a solid job overall considering the lack of talent on the roster. (Especially at the quarterback position.)
The Raiders were the last team to clarify their head coach's job security. It looks like there will be seven new head coaches in 2014, down one from the eight new coaches in 2013. It is keeping with Raider tradition that we learned Allen's fate at the oddest time possible: Just shy of midnight on a Tuesday, nine days after the season ended.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" featured a special in-studio visit from Bears star Brandon Marshall.
