As a Raider fan, I say good riddance to Jon Gruden. Back when he was hired I was upset the way Jack Del Rio, who actually did lead them to the playoffs, and is an Oakland local who grew up loving the team, was fired by Davis to hire Gruden. Del Rio's teams only struggled when facing key injuries (mostly Derek Carr). The whole "unfinished business" was anything but a pipe dream based on emotion. Gruden was also supposed to be a guru for talent, but his draft picks left many people scratching their heads, as did his trades, and who he cut and signed. Same with Maycock for that matter. Hopefully the door will find that guy too soon.
I don't know that
Rich Bisaccia is the long term answer, maybe he is, maybe Gus Bradley is. Maybe neither. I only know Gruden isn't, and wasn't.
This is far more than just coaching though, and his firing is a blessing in disguise, because he's an idiot. Yes, what he wrote (mostly) was 10 years ago, but that was such a stark amount of several things to say and write, it just reeks of negativity, bigotry. I've never talked like that, ever. I don't believe I've ever even thought like that inside my head. And there's nothing that really precipitated his words, triggered them. This in a sense is worse than Mark Furman, who said horribly racist things about people, from horrible experiences as a cop in the ghetto. A far tougher crucible than Gruden was dealing with. Everyone utters something dumb every so often, but to repeatedly say nasty things in such a mindset is a pattern. I'd be hard pressed to think he was just venting, and he has completely changed. I'm glad Mike Turico forgives him, Tony Dungee too. That's fine, as a human, and says more about Turico and Dungee. But there's no room for Jon Gruden in Raider Nation. And no room for him in the NFL.
I'm glad several players are
showing him no sympathy, calling him out. I can't blame them.