Raiders' Turner becomes sixth coach to be fired in three days

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders fired coach Norv Turner on Tuesday following consecutive losing seasons in which the team managed only one victory in its division.

The 53-year-old Turner, who had a year remaining on his contract worth about $1.75 million, had known his job was in jeopardy for the last two months after struggling to get the most out of star receiver Randy Moss and an offense that also included quarterback Kerry Collins, receiver Jerry Porter and running back LaMont Jordan.

Oakland lost its final six games and eight of nine to finish 4-12 and with one fewer victory than Turner produced in his first season a year ago. The Raiders have strung together three straight losing seasons for the first time since Al Davis came aboard in 1963 to coach and eventually own the team.

"I wanted to be here and appreciate the opportunity," Turner said in a statement. "I understand the nature of this business. I wish nothing but the best for the Raider organization."

Turner's firing leaves eight coaching vacancies in the NFL.

Detroit fired Steve Mariucci in November and Kansas City's Dick Vermeil retired on Sunday. Other coaches who have been fired include Mike Martz of St. Louis, Jim Haslett of New Orleans, Mike Tice of Minnesota, Mike Sherman of Green Bay and Dom Capers of Houston.

The Raiders made major strides defensively this season and thought they would have one of the best offenses in the league with the addition of Moss to a receiving corps.

Turner was hired as the organization's 14th head coach in January 2004 to invigorate a franchise that flopped after losing the Super Bowl.

Saunders is highly sought

Al Saunders, architect of the most productive offense in the NFL the past five years, traveled to Minnesota on Tuesday to interview for the Vikings' head coaching job. From there, he said, he was headed for Houston to talk with the Texans.

Saunders, the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive coordinator since 2001, said he also spent several hours Tuesday talking with Carl Peterson, the Chiefs president and general manager, about replacing Dick Vermeil, who retired Sunday.

Saunders also said the Detroit Lions want approval to speak with him.

Saunders was head coach at San Diego from 1986 to 1988.

-- From wire reports