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A report that Jon Gruden used a racist comment about NFL Players Association leader DeMaurice Smith in an email 10 years ago drew a loud and swift rebuke on Friday from the NFL.
A Wall Street Journal story noted that Gruden, who then worked for ESPN and now coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, racistically referred to Smith’s facial features.
“Jon Gruden’s email denigrating DeMaurice Smith is appalling, heinous and totally contrary to NFL values,” said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy. “We condemn the statement and regret any harm its publication may inflict on Mr. Smith or any other person.”
The league is investigating the matter and a person familiar with the investigation has told The Associated Press that disciplinary action is possible for Gruden. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as details of any league investigation are not being made public.
Gruden’s comment in an email to then-president Bruce Allen came during the 2011 NFL lockout of players. Gruden told the newspaper he was angry with the lockout during collective bargaining and did not trust the direction the union was taking. He also apologized for the remark, the Journal reported.
“Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of michellin tires,” Gruden wrote in the email reviewed by the newspaper.
Raiders owner Mark Davis said in a statement that Gruden’s email did not reflect the team’s standards.
“The content of an email regarding Jon Gruden’s DeMaurice Smith when he worked for ESPN 10 years ago is disturbing and not what the Raiders stand for,” said Davis. “We were first informed of the email late yesterday by a reporter and are reviewing it along with other material provided to us today by the NFL. We are discussing the matter with Coach Gruden and will have no further comments at this time. “
In a review of emails regarding the Washington football team’s misconduct that ended over the summer, “the league was made aware of the existence of emails raising issues beyond the scope of this investigation, ”added McCarthy.
“Over the past several months, under the direction of the Commissioner,” he added of Roger Goodell, “senior NFL officials have reviewed the content of over 650,000 emails, including this e-mail. -mail that was sent to an employee of the club. Earlier this week, executives presented a summary of that review to the commissioner and are sharing emails with Raiders executives regarding Coach Gruden. “
Smith told the newspaper: “This is not the first racist comment I hear and it probably won’t be the last. It’s a thick skin job for someone with dark skin, as it always has been for a lot of people who look like me and work in American companies.
Gruden defended his resume on racial equality and inclusion while admitting his email had gone “too far.”
Gruden led the Raiders from 1998 until he was traded to Tampa Bay after the 2001 season. He immediately led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title – against the Raiders.
He lasted the entire 2008 season in Tampa before being fired, then headed to the Monday Night Football booth.
The Raiders, then in Oakland, rehired Gruden in 2018 on a 10-year, $ 100 million contract. The team moved to Las Vegas last year and haven’t made the playoffs since returning. But the Raiders are 3-1 in 2021.
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