Raiders coach Gruden sent a racist email about the NFLPA chief in 2011

You know what they say, dear reader: “What is emailed in the dark will eventually come to light. ” Or … something like that.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Jon Gruden, head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, made a racist comment about NFL players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith in an email he sent during the 2011 NFL lockout.

Gruden, who was working as an ESPN analyst at the time, sent the email to Washington football president Bruce Allen. By the Journal, he wrote to Allen that “Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of michelline tires.”

More from the Wall Street Journal:

Gruden said he was angry at the time with the lockout and did not trust the direction the players, led by Smith, were taking in the negotiations. He said he had in the past called people he believed to be “rubber lips” and had gone “too far”.

“I was upset,” Gruden said. “I used a horrible way of explaining it.”

“I don’t think he’s stupid. I don’t think he’s a liar, ”Gruden said. “I don’t have a racial bone in my body, and I’ve proven that for 58 years.”

Gruden told the Journal that he doesn’t specifically remember writing the email, but ultimately sorry for what he wrote.

Smith, who was recently selected as the director of the players’ union, shared a statement with the newspaper which said in part that “racism like this comes from being at the same table as them and they don’t think someone who looks like me is part of it “.

According to the Journal, the NFL became aware of Gruden’s email as the league investigated reports of misconduct at work behind closed doors to the Washington football team.

In a statement, the NFL called Gruden’s comment “appalling, heinous and totally contrary” to the values ​​of the league – which, no matter you all to say, man. Raiders owner Mark Davis echoed the sentiment, telling the newspaper that the email is “disturbing and not what the Raiders stand for.”

As to whether Gruden will be penalized for his comments, the Associated press reports that the league is further investigating the situation. A source close to the investigation told the AP that disciplinary action was possible for the coach.