Oakland Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin to Interview Assistant James Lofton

In the strongest sign yet that Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin will, in fact, coach the team in 2008, Kiffin is scheduled to interview James Lofton for a position on his coaching staff. Presumably, Kiffin wouldn't be interviewing assistants if he weren't going to be the head coach for the 2008 season. The Sacramento Bee reports:

Raiders senior executive John Herrera said Friday that head coach Lane Kiffin, amid reports he had been asked to resign, would interview Lofton. Herrera denied an ESPN report that owner Al Davis drafted a letter of resignation for Kiffin to sign, though multiple sources confirmed Kiffin received the letter.

Herrera said Kiffin interviewing Lofton is proof Kiffin isn't on his way out and that his job status is a "non-issue." The Raiders' coaching staff returned Sunday from coaching in the Senior Bowl collegiate all-star game in Mobile, Ala., where Kiffin refused to comment on his job status.

Lofton was fired by the Chargers last week. A year ago, he was a candidate to be the Raiders' head coach, until he withdrew his name from consideration amid reports that the Raiders' coaching search was a mess. Now he may be joining the Raiders as an assistant, but a year later, the mess hasn't been cleaned up.