LAS VEGAS -- The Raiders players offered defense and indifference on Sunday to Jon Gruden and the 10-year-old inflammatory emails he sent to his team. Gruden also apologized for the language he used in the missives, which included a racist comment.
Gruden and his players spoke after the Raiders' 20-9 defeat to the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium. This was Las Vegas' second consecutive loss, following opening 3-0.
Gruden was drafted in the first round by Alabama's Raiders running back Josh Jacobs in 2019.
"He has never rubbed me in that way. He said what he said, and that's what he said at night. But, I do trust him. It was 10 years ago. People grow."
Gruden addressed players at a Friday morning meeting and informed them that The Wall Street Journal was reporting that he had emailed Bruce Allen, then president of Washington Football Team, to inform him that the NFL Players Association president DeMaurice Smith (who is Black), had "lips as big as michellin tires" in 2011. Gruden also made a vulgar remark about Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner.
Gruden later stated to ESPN that he used "rubber lips" as a way of describing someone he perceived as lying. He also said that he was frustrated at the lockout and the failures in negotiations between Smith, Goodell.
Raiders linebacker Denzel Perezman, who was acquired by the Raiders from the Carolina Panthers in a Sept. 1, trade, said that he let the matter go as soon as he walked out of the meeting. That was all I was focused on. It's still not my focus. So, I don’t know what he meant. Sincerely, I couldn't care less. It's hard to remember how many years ago, but this week, my primary focus was on the Bears and not what he was doing.
Yannick Ngakoue (defensive end) was asked specifically how Black players felt. He signed as a free agent with the Raiders this spring and said, "No comment."
Gruden said that he has not been in touch with the NFL regarding the emails.
Gruden stated, "All I can tell you is that I am not racist." "I cannot tell you how sickly I am. De Smith, I am sorry again. But I am proud of who I am and what I have done throughout my life. I am sorry for making insensitive remarks. I did not intend to offend anyone racial by making those comments. ... I am not like that. But I apologize."
Gruden was asked if he expected to hear back from the league. He said that he would wait and see what happens over the next few days.
Gruden stated, "I don't recall a lot of what happened 10 or 12 years back, but I stand before everybody apologizing." "I don’t have an ounce racism in me. I take pride in leading people together. I will continue doing that for the rest of my adult life. De Smith and anyone else I've offended, I apologize again."
Derek Carr, a Las Vegas quarterback, said that the team rallied behind Gruden following Friday's meeting.
"Us as a group, we're like Coach, it was 10 Years ago. We love you, man. Carr stated, "We got your back." "We are just trying to be there for Coach. It's hard for him. ... He said, "Men, learn form my mistakes." We didn't accept it as it was when we left that meeting."
Carr acknowledged that he could see the offense and the hurt the emails would cause, but he did not deny it.
Carr stated, "I love everyone." "I don’t have a racist bone. Coach doesn't believe so, neither do I. "I really don't believe that Coach does."
Jacobs was asked if Gruden could lose his locker room because of this.
Jacobs stated, "I don’t believe so." "All the guys talked about how they felt about it and how Ruden treats the players. He is a player's coach. It was almost like everyone was analyzing everything. It won't affect it because the men are led by one another.
"The coaches call plays and all that stuff, but at the end of it all, we are led together." It didn't seem to have an effect on the guys.
