Jon Gruden hopes he’s a candidate to return for a second stint as coach of the Oakland Raiders and believes a final decision will be made
next week.
Gruden made his most specific comments about the opening in Oakland in an interview Tuesday with the Bay Area News Group . The Raiders fired coach Jack
Del Rio on Sunday following a disappointing six-win season
”My understanding is they’re interviewing candidates this week and they’re going to let everybody know sometime early next week or whenever they make their
decision
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When asked specifically if he was a candidate, Gruden replied: ”Well, I think I am being considered, yes. I hope I’m a candidate.”
The Raiders are not commenting on the search beyond a statement issued Sunday night from owner Mark Davis thanking Del Rio for his tenure.
Gruden spent four seasons as coach in Oakland from 1998-2001. After leading the Raiders to 8-8 records his first two years, Gruden helped the team reach the
AFC title game following the 2000 season and got Oakland back into the playoffs
the following season.
Gruden’s tenure ended shortly after the ”Tuck Rule” loss to the New England Patriots when he was traded the following month to Tampa Bay for two first-round
draft picks, two second-rounders and $8 million.
Gruden beat the Raiders in the Super Bowl in his first season with the Buccaneers but didn’t win another playoff game for Tampa Bay in his final six
seasons. He has a 95-81 career record.
Gruden has spent the past nine seasons working as an announcer for ESPN and is scheduled to work the playoff game Saturday in Kansas City between the Chiefs
and Tennessee Titans. ESPN first reported the likelihood of Gruden returning to
Oakland on the eve of the season finale that Oakland lost.
Del Rio was fired following the 30-10 defeat to the Chargers, leading to the current search.
The Raiders will be required to comply with the ”Rooney Rule” and interview at least one minority candidate or otherwise face discipline from the NFL.
John Wooten, the head of the Fritz Pollard Alliance which monitors the NFL’s minority hiring, said he is confident the Raiders will follow the rules and
doesn’t consider the process a sham despite reports Gruden would get the job
before it even opened.
Wooten pointed to the Raiders’ history under late owner Al Davis and his son, Mark
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first African-American head coach in modern NFL history in 1989 and then
bringing him back for a second stint in 2006.
Tom Flores was the first Hispanic coach to win a Super Bowl and the team also hired Hue Jackson as coach in 2011 and currently employs Reggie McKenzie as
general manager.
”I trust the integrity of Mark Davis and Reggie and what they have done,” Pollard said. ”I trust they will follow the rule and I believe that.”
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DeMaurice Smith dismissed with one word a question about his union’s labor deal with the NFL being extended.
Then he attacked.
The executive director of the NFL Players Association quickly said ”no” Thursday when asked about the current 10-year collective bargaining agreement
getting extended beyond the 2020 season.
Then Smith, re-elected last year, went on the offensive about the next CBA.
”We prepare for war,” he said. ”If we are able to get a collective bargaining agreement done, great. All of these men went through a unilateral war declared
on players in 2010-11.”
NFLPA President Eric Winston stressed there are many portions of the current contract they believe need changing, from health care issues to the union’s role
in overall league decisions to, naturally, revenue splits.
”We want 99 percent of the revenues
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rookies’ contracts, health care and technical field issues as key elements for
negotiations.
Ryan Wendell said workplace player safety would be an important topic, along with ”more unfettered union access to the players.”
Wendell also wants the players to have a ”seat at the table in how revenues are raised.”
There remain three full seasons of NFL play before any potential work stoppages, be it a lockout or strike. On many issues, the union and owners have
fought bitterly through the seven years of this agreement.
It isn’t likely to change, either.
”We have been preparing with the idea this will be another arduous process,” Winston said.
One area the union is adamant about wanting to change is Commissioner Roger Goodell’s role in handing out player discipline. The players gave up any
alteration in that area in 2011 in exchange for other concessions from the
league.
They’ve regretted it ever since, and also take issue with the system of fines handed out by the NFL.
”The fine system and guys are labeled as repeat offenders,” annoys Thomas Davis, the 2014 Walter Payton Award winner as NFL Man of the Year.
The Carolina linebacker was suspended for one game this season for what was determined an egregious hit on Packers receiver Davante Adams late this
season.
”They group and categorize everyone in the same box. It shouldn’t be that way.”
Winston insisted an 18-game schedule
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remains as nonsensical as it did in 2011.
Smith virtually ducked answering queries about Colin Kaepernick, the former 49ers quarterback whose kneeling during the national anthem beginning in 2016
sparked the 2017 player protests about social injustice. Kaepernick was not on
any roster this season and has filed a grievance against the NFL that the union
is supporting.
But Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich, who missed the season while injured, said Kaepernick had an effect on his peers.
”I don’t think that made people more fearful” of repercussions from management, Herzlich said of the demonstrations during the anthem.
”It empowered more people to join a movement they really felt was right. I think the bravery of these men to really show what they feel and say, this is
about unity. We’re not going against the country or the flag, but we’re about
wanting equality.”
Winston praised the players for their willingness to speak up when a teammate or opponent appeared to be hurt, particularly concussed.
”I’ve seen many guys say something to a coach or the medical staff: `Get this guy checked out,”’ Winston said. ”It’s a great thing to see.
”There a big education piece to this
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got to stick it out for my team.’ To which I say, `You’re not that good a player
when you are concussed. You could cost your team a win.”’
Eagles defensive end Chris Long was awarded the Whizzer White Community MVP by the union. The NFLPA gives the award to a player ”for his profound dedication
to positively impacting his team city, and communities across the country, in
the spirit of the former Supreme Court justice.”
Long donated six of his game checks this season to funding a scholarship program at St. Anne’s-Belfield School, where he attended high school in
Charlottesville, Virginia.
He then donated his last 10 game checks to programs that support educational equality in the three cities where he’s played so far: Philadelphia, Boston and
St. Louis. Through the ”Pledge 10 for Tomorrow” campaign, he was able to match
his own charitable contribution by raising another $1.3 million in
donations.
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