Kiffin sold Davis on him being the best candidate for the Raiders' coaching vacancy two years ago. In the end, Davis said he and the fans were "conned" by Kiffin.

Downplaying rivalries was one of Kiffin's favorite acts. He went to great lengths trying to convince people that a Raiders-Chiefs game carried no more significance than, say, a Raiders-Texans game. Interim coach Tom Cable resides at the opposite end of the spectrum.

"The AFC West has always kind of had its thing," Cable said. "In that way, we're unique."

Kiffin despised such talk, saying he risked a letdown by his players in games against non-divisional opponents if he placed too much emphasis on games against the Denver Broncos , Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers . He scoffed at the suggestion of playing up a game against an AFC West team.

"I don't understand that," Kiffin said about a game against the Chargers, his last as the Raiders' coach, Sept. 28. "I don't understand how you prepare different. Do you try harder or do you put in better plays because you're playing a division team?

"Then, all of a sudden, you get your team up for that game, and then you go the following week and you get your team up to play the Saints. How do you get them up for that?"

Cable said it's incumbent upon the coach and veteran players to stress the importance of such games.

"I love it," Cable said. "You have to approach it that way. Anything that's in your own division is just a little bit more special. If you're ever going to get to the point where you can win your division and kind of be the king of your division, if you will, you have to make it really, really personal. That's what it is."

Sunday at Denver, Cable called upon defensive-backs coach Willie Brown to address the Raiders about the tradition that dates to 1960. Cable has something in store for this weekend's game against the Chiefs but isn't tipping his hand.

Chiefs Coach Herm Edwards is in his second year around the rivalry. He said he, too, makes an effort to play up games against divisional foes, especially because his roster is full of young players.

"When you have a young team, sometimes they lose track of that," Edwards said. "But they have to understand that they are always going to play the teams in your division a bunch. So, they have to understand that, and that's kind of important."

Meanwhile, Kiffin reportedly is on his way to Knoxville, where he can begin selling Tennessee players, boosters and alumni on the similarity between games against Florida and Ole Miss.

The Raiders and the NFL partnered with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the Ad Council in launching a series of television public-service advertisements aimed at fighting childhood obesity through physical activity. Running back Darren McFadden will be featured in the TV spots shown in the Bay Area and at home games.

Marquis Cooper, Sam Williams, Louis Rankin, Mauricio Lopez and Derrick Gray volunteered at a local food bank Tuesday.

Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha will receive the President's Volunteer Service Award before the game Sunday for his work encouraging children to take steps to remain healthy.