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Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden allegedly used racist language in a 2011 email describing NFL Players Association chief DeMaurice Smith as a commentator on ESPN.
Gruden’s email was obtained by the Wall Street Journal on Friday and included remarks about Smith’s facial features.
“Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of michellin tires,” Gruden wrote in the email, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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The report drew a strong rebuke from the NFL.
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden stands on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, September 26, 2021, in Las Vegas.
(AP Photo / Rick Scuteri)
“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 on anyone else.”
Raiders team owner Mark Davis also sentenced Gruden.
“The content of an email regarding Jon Gruden’s DeMaurice Smith when he worked for ESPN 10 years ago is disturbing and is not what the Raiders represent. Documents provided to us today by the NFL. We are discussing the matter with Coach Gruden and will have no further comment at this time, ”Davis said in a statement.
In 2011, Gruden was a commentator for ESPN after his first stint with the Raiders and years after winning a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The email was sent to Washington football president Bruce Allen amid the lockdown.
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Gruden told the Wall Street Journal he was angry at the time with the management of the players, who were led by Smith. He has claimed in the past that he called people he said were lying “rubber lips” and that he had taken things “too far”.
“I was upset. I used a horrible way to explain it,” Gruden said.
“I don’t think he’s stupid. I don’t think he’s a liar. I don’t have a racial bone in my body, and I’ve proven that for 58 years.”
Smith told the newspaper that Gruden’s remark reflected how difficult it was for blacks in society at large.
“This isn’t the first racist comment I hear and it probably won’t be the last. It’s thick skin work for someone with dark skin, as it always has been for many. people who look like me and work You know people sometimes say racist things behind your back, just like you see people talking and writing about you using racist, lightly coded language, ”Smith said.
NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith speaks at the annual State of the Union press conference in Miami Beach, Florida. The NFL reacted sharply and quickly on Friday, October 8, 2021 to a report that Jon Gruden used a racist comment about Smith in an email 10 years ago. 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.
(AP Photo / Chris Carlson, file)
“Such racism comes from the fact that I’m at the same table with them and they don’t think someone who looks like me belongs. I’m sorry my family had to see something like this, but I would rather see something like this. ‘they know. I won’t let him define me. “
McCarthy said during a review of emails regarding the Washington football team’s own work misconduct investigation, the NFL was “aware of the existence of emails raising issues beyond the framework of this investigation ”.
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden watches the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on September 19, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(Justin K. Aller / Getty Images)
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell added: “Over the past few months, under the direction of the Commissioner, senior NFL executives have reviewed the content of more than 650,000 emails, including this email. which was sent to a club employee. Earlier this week, executives presented a summary of that review to the commissioner and are sharing emails with Raiders executives regarding Coach Gruden. “
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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