Raiders Opinion: The End Of The Gruden Regime

Yesterday, Jon Gruden stepped down as the coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. After emails surfaced that included further bigoted language, the die was cast. Jon Gruden leaves Nevada without another championship, playoff appearance, or the respect of anyone leaguewide. That same aggressive bluster that lured fans and wooed ownership became his ultimate undoing.

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The Event

Jon Gruden resigned as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, leaving a 22-31 record behind him. Also, he leaves roughly sixty million dollars on the table. When the other emails surfaced, the end looked inevitable. However, no one believed that Gruden would actually walk away. Yet, he is no longer coach and the air of heaviness lifted.

The Bigotry

Since this is an editorial, I can opine with reason. Jon Gruden, through the course of multiple emails, showed himself to be a bigot. Encompassing everything from racism to homophobia to misogyny, The former coach let his feelings known. The only thing worse than a bigot remains those that defend one. Jon Gruden coached a football team. Regardless of that job, his words will stand as his legacy. For those falling over themselves to run to his aid, feels rather pathetic. Would you defend an intolerant neighbor or co-worker? If so, this becomes less about football and more about basic morality. Displaying disdain for marginalized communities in any form , shows a deficit in character. Why defend this? Does football supersede decency? If so, stop reading and go look elsewhere. Slurring anyone should never be tolerated, especially a public figure. RaiderNation remains a diverse group of fans. Yet, too many within its ranks seem comfortable with upholding hate.

House Money

For the rest of the season, the heavy cloud of the Gruden regime will slowly lift. Now, no one can predict how the team will fare. However, the team will solely focus on the games at hand. Sitting at 3-2, the Raiders can stack wins versus quality teams and now set their sights on a productive season. When the weather cools, football heats up. As a result, the team should play a little looser and free.

Mayock Survived

In what needs to be labeled a surprise, Mike Mayock survived Jon Gruden. Now, if the team retains him, we will actually witness his drafting acumen. Anyone who tells you that Mike Mayock possessed any semblance of power within the organization is not telling you the entire truth. In fact, from his own words, he explains who called the shots at team headquarters. 2021 and beyond allows Mike Mayock a second chance to make a positive impression.

Legacy

Jon Gruden leaves the Raiders with a winning overall record, but tattered reputation on and off the field. He managed to ship away a generational pass rusher, superb route runner, and two Pro Bowl linemen. Additionally, he overdrafted a run-stopping defensive end, box safety, and squandered a half dozen third-round picks that never panned out. Off the field, he flouted Covid protocols, offered word salad at press conferences, and displayed nothing but excuses. More importantly, he revealed himself to be someone incapable of leading a team, due to the overwhelming bigotry that resides within him.