Power Trip
January 8th, 2018
BY IRA KAUFMAN
The coronation of Jon Gruden is at hand.
On Tuesday, the former icon of Buc Nation will return to the scene of his first NFL head coaching job after a 16-year absence.
The Oakland media will be out in force to welcome back a man who can fill their tape recorders with salty sound bites and fill the stadium by virtue of his electric personality.
And when Chucky stands at that podium to formally accept the job as coach of the Raiders once again, he will have come full circle in his professional life.
Standing in the shadows will be Bob LaMonte, smiling the smile of a man who just worked his magic once again. LaMonte should instead be on center stage because he is a key figure in this silver and black soap opera.
It was LaMonte who was quoted during the 2001 season telling reporters that Gruden would not return to coach the Raiders the following season. That remark, as they say in the trade, greased the skids for Gruden’s departure.
A few months later, Gruden was gone, “traded in the middle of the night” as he likes to describe the shocking deal between the Glazers and Al Davis.
For years, Al’s son, Mark, has been infatuated with bringing Gruden back. Gruden turned down several previous overtures, but this time around, the timing was right. LaMonte is a dangerous man when he has the leverage, so he negotiated from strength and the result is his client will be the NFL’s highest-paid coach.
Take that, Mr. Belichick.
Power Trip
In what must be a delicious irony for Gruden, he will now be compensated more handsomely than the man who was on the opposing sideline for the final game Chucky coached as a Raider, the epic “Tuck Rule” playoff matchup in snowy Foxborough.
Like Hyman Roth in “Godfather, Part II,” LaMonte played this one beautifully. Gruden returns to Oakland, where he is fawned over even more so than in Tampa, and there are millions more to be made in a few years when the franchise leaves the stodgy Coliseum and moves to a shiny new home in Las Vegas.
Now Gruden has the power he sought and failed to achieve the first time around with the Raiders. Until Al Davis died in 2011, Oakland’s head coaches always knew who carried the big stick.
GM Reggie McKenzie is apparently sticking around — but he now serves at the pleasure of the head coach. That’s the new power structure understood by all parties.
Quiet In Tampa
While everything has changed in Oakland, the status quo reigns supreme in Tampa. Dirk Koetter and Jason Licht are presumably back for one last shot at ending a playoff drought that has now stretched to an NFC-high 10 seasons.
“Great move bringing coach back,” says Demar Dotson, the longest-tenured Buccaneer. “I love Dirk and we aren’t too far off. A little tweaking needs to be done and I think our owners saw that. It wasn’t like we were getting blown out or he had lost the team.”
The Bucs will enter the 2018 season with little fanfare — and perhaps that anonymity will prove beneficial. The Raiders are already generating lots of buzz.
The official league web site has devoted a special section dedicated to Gruden’s return. You can find it just below the highlights from this weekend’s playoff games.
On Tuesday, you can bet Gruden will be the headliner.
And while Jameis Winston waits to learn his fate regarding a possible suspension, Derek Carr awaits the arrival of a head coach known to be exceedingly tough on his quarterbacks.
Goodbye, ESPN. Hello, Black Hole.
The King has returned.
Ira Kaufman is the most revered sports personality and writer in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also hear Ira every Wednesday on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio on Wednesdays at 5 p.m.
January 8th, 2018 at 1:31 pm
I think we’ve proven that buzz is the LAST thing this team needs. The second to last was a coach (any coach not named Belichick) with a 10 year/100M contract. We’ve succeeded so far. I’m not superstitious but I’m very glad that Hard Knocks is out of the way. Now a couple of well chosen FA’s and another solid draft with the bonus of a few balls bouncing the right way (always needed in a successful season) and we should be well on our way. Fingers crossed. Oh wait…
January 8th, 2018 at 1:39 pm
And while Jameis Winston waits to learn his fate regarding a possible suspension
—————–
How often do you need/want to bring this up? It’s like you’re hoping he gets suspended. I don’t understand. I wonder if you will make as many retractions or apologies if and when he’s cleared of any wrong doing?
Man with friends like the TB media who needs enemies? No wonder Gruden played you guys like chumps. Yes I recall Ira saying he was informed that Gruden’s contract would be signed by Monday. Smh.
January 8th, 2018 at 1:40 pm
He should have stayed an analyst. I loved him on MNF. The second coming of John Madden. However, I think he’s all bluster and pretentiousness. He had Tony’s team with Monte on the other side. I’m so glad he didn’t come back here. Garcia said he doesn’t like to marry quarterbacks. Play your best this year Carr. It will be fun to see Bellacheat beat his ass!
January 8th, 2018 at 1:46 pm
DB55
Not sure how you would handle the #3 story. If we just all ignore it…forget about it…and he IS suspended what then?
January 8th, 2018 at 1:55 pm
Lol
Yeah
He’ll probably get suspended……and Tampa Bay “browns” will have another great season again
January 8th, 2018 at 2:05 pm
Jameis will not be suspended. The dotson quote is hilarious about not being far off. coming from a career loser who wouldn’t know a winner if it bit his arse that is truly funny. Dotson martin and cancer93 must be eradicated from roster if the team has any hope for future…
Gruden will fail in Oakland bucs dodged a bullet but still have zero hope of ever contending with glazers lack of leadership and the fact no credible football people will ever come here with glazers as owners.
January 8th, 2018 at 2:15 pm
The greater the hype, the greater the fail
January 8th, 2018 at 2:18 pm
Spbf
Joe reported the incident as well as all the other outlets. That’s enough imo. Regrettably you are prob the worst culprit of all (with respect).
Every article (or post in your case) does not need a constant reminder and speculation as to whether or not he’ll be suspended for 6 games.
Wtf do you know? Why not just leave it alone until the investigation ends? It just seems like unnecessary bashing to me. I’m sure bashing isn’t the right word but I’m no writer obviously.
January 8th, 2018 at 2:25 pm
They don’t have to release coach’s salaries publicly but Chris Mortenson reported this past weekend Belichick makes about 12.5 million annually so Gruden most likely is not the highest paid coach.
January 8th, 2018 at 2:55 pm
So damn envious of Raiders fans. Good for them
January 8th, 2018 at 3:28 pm
Lets hope the bucs know about Winston’s future before the draft and their is no issue .. If he does get suspended the bucs maybe picking a qb 1st in the draft!
January 8th, 2018 at 3:32 pm
After the piss poor coaching that was done by this coaching staff this year we can only hope they have improved and we will see better results.
January 8th, 2018 at 3:40 pm
Overrated Head coach and an Overrated QB. Both will be gone in 5 years.
January 8th, 2018 at 3:52 pm
DB55
Respect you as well and I agree bashing is not the operative word nor the intention of others…at least most…there are some trolls here who love to bash period.
I understand your points but if you look at the entire Jameis story from FSU on…there has always been a couple of extremes. One side uses racist terms like thug and there can be little doubt that for “some” race enters their thoughts…the other side just continually apologizes for #3’s transgressions. At some point this becomes co dependency and it’s not good for #3. He NEEDS to be held accountable.
I come down in the middle of those extremes. Talent wise I’m on #3’s side. I enjoy rooting for him…he has STYLE. Personality wise I’m largely on his side but he has made some incredibly stupid mistakes. And they haven’t stopped. RE Uber…he should have told the Bucs immediately not a year later and he should have immediately cleared his name….3 actually even 2 in the cab will do that. Coulda shouda been done over a year ago. The very fact that we even have this as a story makes me agitated enough to not feel sympathy for #3.
But here is what has you justifiably upset DB55. It’s clear there are some here who root for #3’s failure…or MM’s success or whatever. They do not want him as QB and that upsets you. I do not blame you. And I also concede that some of these folks who are down on #3 are so for spurious reasons.
As for me…I root for #3 personally still…as a Buc’s fan I root for him as our QB
but as an open minded, clear eyed individual I gotta confess he’s starting to make me nervous for all the reasons listed here daily which you would call bashing.
Bottom line for all of our disagreements DB55 I suspect at the end of the day we actually agree more than disagree.
January 8th, 2018 at 3:58 pm
I personally luv Gruden. I wish him nothing but the best. At least he shows fire and emotion on the sidelines. At least his DC will be roaming the sidelines encouraging his troops. I might even make the Raiders my..3rd team behind Tampa, and J-Ville. Coach’em up Gru!!!
January 8th, 2018 at 4:20 pm
Spbf
I think we do too. I just don’t understand why we feel the need continuously bring it up. Especially the TB media, it’s beyond me really.
If you’re wife ran a red light you wouldn’t find the nearest cop and tell on her. You would stay quiet until you get caught. Kinda the same thing, I feel like the TB media is trying to get jw pulled over and ticketed regardless of guilt or not.
Where I’m from that kinda stuff gets you (you in general) labeled as a beach ass n****a and you’d have to get dealt with real quick.
Just let it go wait until the investigation is over until then just don’t mention it. That’s all I’m saying. And I don’t mean you specifically I mean these darn media heads.
January 8th, 2018 at 4:46 pm
I get ya DB55.
January 8th, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Exactly, DB55. It’s the boiler point in every article. I haven’t seen it on NFL Network for a month or more. Not a mention of it. Yet, the locals bring it up like it’s a done deal, guilty as charged. Run Jameis, run.
January 8th, 2018 at 10:56 pm
i’m very excited as to how the Jon Gruden “take 3 steps and then turn around” offense translates to the modern era of football.