Jon Gruden has entered a storm of controversy over his leaked emails over the last few days. Multiple inflammatory comments were found and published in the media from over a decade ago.
Las Vegas Raiders players have offered both defense and indifference in regard to their coach. Gruden addressed the players in a Friday morning meeting, letting them know that the article was coming out in The Wall Street Journal.
Randy Moss on Jon Gruden using a racist trope in an email: pic.twitter.com/rWcHeB60is
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 10, 2021
At the time of the comments, Gruden was working for ESPN as the lead analyst on Monday Night Football. In an email to Washington Football Team president Bruce Allen he said NFL Players Association president DeMaurice Smith had “lips the size of michellin tires.’
Gruden also made a vulgar comment about NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. During his most recent press conference, Gruden said he had not had any contact with the NFL about the emails.
I’ve never felt a certain type of way about him- Josh Jacobs
“I’ve been around this guy for three years now; I’ve never felt a certain type of way about him,” Raiders running back Josh Jacobs said. Gruden and the Raiders selected the tailback out of Alabama in 2019.
CBS Sports quoted Gruden as saying “I was in a bad frame of mind at the time [in 2011], and I called Roger Goodell a [expletive] in one of these emails too.” There has been no elaboration as to what vulgar word he used.
We can't remain this weak and phony. Jon Gruden saying DeMaurice Smith has huge lips, which he does, can't bring us to tears. Are we really this weak? Does the white man's opinion of our lips mean that much? I like my big lips, never had a woman complain about them. https://t.co/oSHNFNU15X
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) October 10, 2021
That’s the breakdown of what’s going on with Gruden. Gruden says that he’s not a racist. You’d have to imagine it would be hard to hate minorities and work in a league that is as racially diverse as the NFL.
Gruden was born in 1963 in Sandusky, Ohio. Gruden comes from a football-focused family. Jon’s father, Jim was an assistant to Notre Dame head coach Dan Devine when Jon graduated high school.
Jon Gruden discussed the article with his players this morning. Here are his comments to me on the offensive email: pic.twitter.com/7gkNd5Rzzs
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) October 8, 2021
He was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, before being infamously traded to Tampa Bay, where he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2002 to 2008. The team compiled an overall record 57-55-0 during his tenure.
In 2002, the year that he was traded, the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl against the Oakland Raiders 48-21.
.@CharlesWoodson, who played for Jon Gruden for 4 years, offers his thoughts on the situation involving the Raiders head coach. pic.twitter.com/wDmfcGhSAA
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 10, 2021
We’ve brought the story to you in detail, but the decision is yours to make. Is Jon Gruden a bad person? Should the Raiders part ways with him again? Let us know what you think.
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