Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said that he is not racist after racially-insensitive comments towards NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith surfaced.
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden was the topic of discussion in the NFL this past Friday, after a 2011 leaked email revealed that he made racially-insensitive comments towards NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith. Raiders owner Mark Davis released a statement shortly after the Wall Street Journal’s report on the email, condemning Gruden’s comments. Gruden apologized in the Wall Street Journal article.
After the team’s 20-9 loss to the Chicago Bears, Gruden addressed the email, saying that “there was no racism intended” and that he apologized to Smith “several times.” The quote comes courtesy of Levi Damien of The Raiders Wire.
Jon Gruden says he is not racist after email leak
“All I can say is I’m not a racist,” said Gruden, via The Athletic. “I can’t tell you how sick I am. I apologize again to De Smith. But I feel good about who I am and what I’ve done my entire life. I apologize again for the insensitive remarks. I had no racial intentions with those remarks at all.”
Gruden’s email surfaced during the investigation towards the Washington Football Team and their culture. The Raiders coach, who was not working in the NFL, sent the insensitive comments about Smith to Bruce Allen, Washington’s-then team president, during the league lockout.
According to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, no punishment is imminent, and sources close to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell revealed that it is likely that Gruden will receive “a hefty fine and further inclusion and diversity training.”
We will continue to keep you updated on this situation.