Tag: Jon Gruden

A chance to see player empowerment at its best

When player empowerment comes to mind, the thought probably goes to how players make power plays to get what they want. Some hold out to get more money, while others use leverage to get themselves traded from what they see as a toxic situation. While I would never fault anyone for doing what they feel is right to maximize profits, the logic behind it can be more than questioned at times. In the world of sports, situations can happen fast, to the point there’s nothing players can do about it. It’s at those moments where player empowerment takes on a whole new meeting, and we have a real life case study to see how it materializes.

The case study mentioned is the Las Vegas Raiders, who just saw their world turn upside down in a matter of days. The Raiders had to part ways with Jon Gruden, who was in the fourth of a 10-year contract (worth $100 million) as the team’s head coach. Gruden was exposed as, well, a garbage human being, in an email pattern spanning 12 years, according to The New York Times. In the emails, Gruden used racist, anti-gay and misogynistic language, and the messages themselves were uncovered as part of an NFL investigation into workplace misconduct within the Washington Football Team. The bulk of these emails were between 2011 and 2018, and a frequent member in these conversations was Bruce Allen, who was the general manager of the WFT during that time (Gruden was an analyst for ESPN’s Monday Night Football in that same span). Gruden and Allen held the coach and GM positions, respectively, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers until 2008, when they were both fired after a bad season. The first report about the emails was Oct. 8. More were leaked out on the 11th, with the latter leaving no choice but for Gruden to resign.

For the Raiders players, this became a situation where many emotions have to be managed in a short amount of time. Yes, the argument can be made bringing the team together rests on the shoulders of owner Mark Davis, or maybe on GM Mike Mayock. It can be even be said special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, who was named interim head coach in the midst of the fallout, should be the one to rally the troops. In a perfect world, the powers that be could handle that task. The problem that may arise is with creditability, because the players might not trust the people who hired and worked with Gruden. Another unique aspect of this situation is defensive end Carl Nassib, the league’s first openly gay player, also plays for Las Vegas. All of this, combined with the feelings that could come as a result from hearing their former head coach is everything that’s wrong with humanity these days, and the potential for things to implode is as real as it gets.

No one knows what else can drop from this investigation, but for the Raiders players, the saving grace is there is still a lot to play for. Guys like quarterback Derek Carr and Nassib might be able to provide the leadership needed to get through something like this, and there will be plenty of opportunities to show how connected they are. Las Vegas was already 3-2 before Gruden left the team, and judging off of their performance against the Denver Broncos on the road Sunday, they intend to make the future even brighter in a time that’s seen as dark for the silver and black. With the Philadelphia Eagles coming to Allegiant Stadium next weekend, it’s reasonable to think the Raiders will be 5-2 with everything in front of them.

So yes, player empowerment is normally reserved for players who want to force issues upon a team, but when a group has a chance to come together at a time where trust in the front office might vary depending on the person, that’s when the term should see more usage. It’s always said sports is the ultimate unifier for divided times, and for Las Vegas, playing a sport they put so much into can help them get through this difficult period. Gruden’s words were hurtful and maddening, but now, an opportunity to grow and learn arises. If the Raiders can go on to win an AFC West division crown, we would have an example of player empowerment at its best, and that’s something we can all get behind.

Everything is fine in Chiefs Kingdom…right??

This past Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs had what a lot of people looked at as a “get right” game against the Philadelphia Eagles on the road. The Chiefs did win 42-30 at Lincoln Financial Field to even their record at 2-2, but it looked eerily similar to a good amount of games involving Kansas City. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes looked good in throwing five touchdowns, including three to wide receiver Tyreek Hill. That in and of itself is no surprise, but what’s also no surprise is the leaky defense, and the lack of a consistent running game to compliment Mahomes. The assumption from most in the sports media is the two-time defending AFC champions will get it together, and eventually, be back in the Super Bowl for a third consecutive season. The reality is the Chiefs have serious issues that need fixing before any postseason play can be thought of. Three of those issues have nothing to do with the team itself, and those are the rest of the clubs in the improving AFC West. They (at least after the first month of NFL action) are turning what was seemingly a walk in the park for Kansas City into anything but.

Let’s start with the Los Angeles Chargers, who are sitting at 3-1. The Chargers, under first-year head coach Brandon Staley and the next big thing (maybe) in quarterback Justin Herbert, look like they are starting to turn the corner after years of inconsistency. It’s no secret Los Angeles has one of the most talented rosters in the league, but bad coaching blunders and inexcusable penalties have kept the club from even coming close to reaching their potential. Lack of mental toughness has also hurt the Chargers, but based off of what we have seen in the last couple of weeks, there’s reason to believe that might be past history. Los Angeles beat the Chiefs on the road and the Las Vegas Raiders at home (there were far more Raiders fans than Chargers supporters in SoFi Stadium on Monday night). In both games, the Chargers had to stave off comebacks from their opponents, and in years past, those games would have been losses. So far, L.A. has been able to show why this year will be different, and if it continues, they could factor into results impacting not just the division, but the conference.

Speaking of Las Vegas, they, like the Chargers, also sit at 3-1. It would be reasonable to say the Raiders and Los Angeles have a good amount in common when it comes to talking about what holds them back (undisciplined play, clock management issues, etc.), but Vegas has also found ways to win games that would be losses any other year. The Raiders have had to come from behind to win in all of their victories, including two from double-digits against the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins, respectively. From the exterior, it looks like head coach Jon Gruden and quarterback Derek Carr are finally on the same page (stay tuned to see if this continues), and the defense looks respectable for a change. Slow starts in games is something the Raiders will have to fix going forward. If the loss to the Chargers taught them anything, they would learn it’s hard to win week after week having to climb out of huge holes, especially a 21-0 deficit at halftime. If Vegas can remedy that problem, they can find themselves in the middle of the playoff picture. On top of all this, the Raiders believe they should have swept Kansas City last season, so anyone can bet those two games are circled on the calendar.

Finally, there are the Denver Broncos. Any guess what their record is? If your answer is 3-1, that would be correct. Yes, the Broncos caught a loss to the Ravens last Sunday, but that doesn’t take away from the identity they have built through the first four games. Unlike L.A. and Las Vegas, Denver’s strength lies on the defensive end, where they are fourth in the league in total yardage allowed. The offense doesn’t lack for talent either if they can stay healthy. Wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler both suffered significant injuries (Hamler is gone for the year with a torn ACL in his left knee), and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who has played well after winning the job from incumbent Drew Lock, is battling a concussion. The running game, led by Melvin Gordon, has been solid. Long story short, if the offense can catch up to the defense, this is a team that is also dangerous to the Chiefs chances of running away with the division.

Keep in mind I still expect Kansas City to win the AFC West. Like many others, the Chiefs were my pick at the beginning of the year, and it’s far too early to jump off of that wagon. Having said that, there are a few issues the team has to deal with in a quick manner, or the percentage of things not being okay go up in a hurry. The defense is a turnstile, and the lack of a consistent ground attack is a red flag. These factors, along with the other three teams in the division, could combine to be too much for even the great St. Patty (Mahomes) to overcome. In other words, it’s not safe to assume all is well in Chiefs Kingdom, because right now, that’s far from the truth.