Jon Gruden Emailed a Joke 10+ Years Ago, Gets in Trouble

Sports

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden did a racism… I guess.

Back on July 21, 2011 (over a decade ago), Gruden sent the GM of the Washington Redskins, Bruce Allen, an email about the state of the league, as they were in the midst of a lockout. Within the text of the email, which was leaked to the Wall Street Journal, Gruden, who was working with ESPN at the time, had this to say about NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith (who was just voted to stay in the position for a final term):

“Dumborisss Smith has lips the size of michellin tires.”

In light of this great investigative journalism on behalf of the paper who famously tried to link mass shootings with YouTube “radicalization,” the NFL and the Raiders organization – once the toughest, most smash-mouth organization in the league – strongly condemned the “racial troupe.” The NFL had this to say:

“The email from Jon Gruden denigrating DeMaurice Smith is appalling, abhorrent and wholly contrary to the NFL’s values. We condemn the statement and regret any harm that its publication may inflict on Mr. Smith or anyone else.”

Raiders owner and a man who proudly cuts his own hair Mark Davis added:

“The content of an email regarding DeMaurice Smith from Jon Gruden when he worked for ESPN 10 years ago is disturbing and not what the Raiders stand for. We were first made aware of the email late yesterday by a reporter and are reviewing it along with other materials provided to us today by the NFL. We are addressing the matter with Coach Gruden and will have no further comment at this time.”

Ridiculous, all things considered, that a 10-year-old email between former co-workers (Allen and Gruden worked together during Gruden’s first stint as Raiders head coach in 2001 and Tampa Bay in 2002) could upset a grown man, but that’s the world that exists today.

“Racism like this comes from the fact that I’m at the same table as they are and they don’t think someone who looks like me belongs,” said DeMaurice Smith, who has been the NFLPA director since 2009; I think everyone has gotten used to you at this point. Prior to Smith’s tenure, the great Gene Upshaw was in charge of the Players Association, so it’s tough to reconcile that statement with any sincerity.

Gruden, other than possessing the humor of a 2^nd grader, has done nothing worthy of apologizing over, but has anyways. “I don’t think he’s dumb, I don’t think he’s a liar. I don’t have a racial bone in my body, and I’ve proven that for 58 years,” said Gruden to the Wall Street Journal when asked for comment. He was also “really sorry” and attempted to clarify his “lip” comment by saying he refers to liars as “rubber lips” (must be from another generation; new phrase to me).

As for tangible punishment, though none is warranted, nothing has come from the NFL or the Raiders organization. They are scheduled to face the Bears at home Sunday.