Jon Gruden could be in some trouble with the NFL after the e-mails that were uncovered from 2011 that make him look like a racist.
Over the weekend, an e-mail from Gruden had him making a racial expression towards NFL Players Union head DeMaurice Smith, in which, Gruden has publicly apologized for them.
Now, there a chance that the NFL could decide to fine and/or suspend Gruden for the comments, as while Gruden says he’s not a racist, but there is the perception that he could be one, and given how the internet can take things out of context, Gruden might as well be one.
But to look at it even further, could the Raiders be forced into a decision where they have no choice but to terminate Gruden from his head coaching duties?
Granted, this isn’t nearly on the level of Donald Sterling, who was forced to sell the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA when he made blatant racist comments as the former owner and the team rebelled against him.
Gruden does have some support of the players, like Josh Jacobs. But it also sounds like he doesn’t have total support, which Yannick Ngakoue made clear when he refused to comment on the situation after the Raiders lost to the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Gruden is in the fourth year of a 10-year contract he signed before the 2018 season and that would be a tough pill for Mark Davis to have to swallow if he had to fire Gruden after five weeks and with the team at 3-2.
But, if Davis gets any backlash from any public outcry and if any of the fan base makes a public outcry given how strong public opinions can be, Gruden could be in some hot water here.
Gruden also apparently took a shot at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell too, although at the time of these e-mails, Gruden was not an employee of the NFL, as he was of ESPN when he was an analyst for Monday Night Football.
Given that this was 10 years ago and his team isn’t acting like the Clippers did with Donald Sterling, Gruden might avoid being fired and may get a simple fine.
Had it been last season, it could be a different scenario. And Gruden may be looking at suspension and termination.
But we will see. Gun to the head opinion: Gruden remains the head coach.
