The Raiders "rolled out the silver-and-black carpet" at their Alameda headquarters yesterday during Jon Gruden's introductory press conference, holding his unveiling in their recently built weight room and "packing the place with franchise luminaries," according to Matt Kawahara of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Raiders Owner Mark Davis said, "It is the biggest day of my life right now to have him here." Neither Gruden nor Davis "directly" addressed the coach's reported 10-year, $100M contract (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/10). USA TODAY's Josh Peter writes the Raiders' mystique "all these years later" after Gruden's first stint with the team from '98-'01 "apparently still has a hold" on him. Gruden: "I feel this is the thing to do. This is what I want to do. This is the organization that I want to be a part of. And I’m all in. I only live one time. This is something that I feel deeply, strongly about" (USA TODAY, 1/10). CBSSN's Adam Schein noted Gruden was "born to be the Raiders coach" and Davis "has wanted him back coaching the Raiders ever since he took over the team." Davis "made up ... for his dad's biggest mistake" -- trading Gruden to the Buccaneers ("Time To Schein," CBSSN, 1/9).
WELCOME BRIGADE: ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez noted yesterday's "elaborate introductory news conference" included "more than 110 media members" as well as 45-50 former Raiders players (ESPN.com, 1/9). USA TODAY's Jorge Ortiz reported fans "outfitted in Raiders regalia waited outside the team’s headquarters, hoping for a peek at the returning savior." Gruden "displayed both charm and enthusiasm, repeatedly expressing his love for Oakland" (USATODAY.com, 1/9). The REVIEW-JOURNAL's Gehlken writes this was "not just another news conference," as Gruden is "not just another coach." This hire was also a "long time coming for Davis" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/10). NFL Network's Steve Wyche said there were "exuberance and theatrics" at yesterday's event, and it was like the Raiders "were getting ready for Las Vegas in a couple years." He noted the crowd at the introduction was "just incredible because it was the prodigal son returning" ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 1/9). In S.F., Ann Killion in a front-page piece writes the news conference was "part coronation, part class reunion and grand theater." There was a "celebratory, giddy vibe in the audience: that a wrong had finally been righted." Killion: "Will he really lead the Raiders for 10 years? Doubtful." The "smart money would be two years in Oakland and a couple more to get the team settled in Las Vegas." Gruden said, “I don’t have a guarantee to be alive for 10 years" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/10).
PRESENCE FELT: In San Jose, Dieter Kurtenbach in a front-page piece writes Gruden "brings the Raiders’ brand star power." It was "obvious why he was ESPN’s highest-paid on-camera employee: charisma was practically oozing out of the coach’s ears." Kurtenbach: "He’s a rock star, and that will sell tickets not only in Las Vegas, but in Oakland as well, but that won’t be enough to fill a new stadium." For the Raiders to be successful, Gruden "needs to put a winning team on the field" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 1/10). Also in San Jose, Carl Steward writes Gruden's return yesterday was a "silver and black monster." Steward: "Huge. Global, as Al Davis was always wont to say, and downright jaw-dropping when you just looked around the room." This was a "major coup for the younger Davis’ legitimacy as an NFL owner" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 1/10). NBC SPORTS BAY AREA's Scott Bair noted Gruden will "help the Raiders navigate a complicated transition" to Las Vegas in '20 while "simultaneously striving to engage a scorned local fan base while selling PSL’s, naming rights and advertising in their new Vegas digs." Bair: "His mere presence will take care of that" (NBCSPORTSBAYAREA.com, 1/9). FS1's Tony Gonzalez said, "I'm excited for the Raiders right now. Did they overpay? Absolutely. A 10-year deal for $100 million for a coach? That makes no sense." However, Gruden's presence will "sell tickets" and he is "going to go perfect" with the culture in both Oakland and Las Vegas ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 1/9).
DAVIS' WHITE WHALE: NBC SPORTS BAY AREA's Bair wrote yesterday was a moment "six years in the making, the conclusion of a quest started shortly after Mark took control" following his father's death (NBCSPORTSBAYAREA.com, 1/9). In S.F., Al Saracevic writes, "You could see the relief on Davis’ face when it was all said and done." Saracevic: "It’s a pretty huge gamble, financially, but Davis didn’t seem to flinch at the big dollars." Davis: “The money doesn’t come into play at all. It really wasn’t the No. 1, overriding issue.” Saracevic: "Tuesday was more of a homecoming event. A Raiders family reunion." The turnout, inside and outside of the facility, was "impressive -- a vivid reminder of a once-great franchise that has fallen on hard times" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/10). THE ATHLETIC's Tim Kawakami wrote getting approval for the Vegas move and bringing back Gruden are "clearly big wins, but they're tempered by the understanding that Davis had to extend himself further than any other owner would've done to achieve them." Kawakami: "Still, I would guess that most in the NFL -- or the entire sports world -- didn't think Davis had it in him to accomplish either thing." Davis: "It's a pretty good year" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/9). Davis: "Somebody asked me what was harder: to get the 31 votes to move to Las Vegas, or to get Jon Gruden? And by far to get Jon Gruden was the toughest" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 1/10).
WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? THE ATHLETIC's Kawakami asked Davis if the reported terms of Gruden's contract were accurate, to which Davis replied, "You'd have to ask [Raiders President Marc] Badain." Davis: "But 10 years, $100 million is easy for you guys to repeat, so that's why that number is out there." Davis denied that giving Gruden an ownership stake was ever discussed (THEATHLETIC,com, 1/9). SI.com's Conor Orr chronicled the "five most insane moments" from the introductory press conference, with the first being Gruden saying he "isn’t really sure what the terms of his contract are." Gruden: “I don’t really know the terms, all I know is that this year I’ll be coaching in Oakland and next year I’ll be coaching in Oakland." Orr wrote that "has to be flat-out untrue." Orr: "This man isn’t really sure he’s guaranteed $100 million over the next 10 years of his life?" (SI.com, 1/9). In DC, Jerry Brewer writes, "There’s no question that, for the volatile profession of pro and major-college coaching, the Raiders’ monster commitment to Gruden is a significant -- perhaps even seminal -- moment." Gruden "capitalized on being perceived as unattainable" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/10). Gruden said his duration in his second stint with the Raiders "will be determined by how well we're playing." In Sacramento, Ailene Voisin writes, "In other words, even with a $100 million contract, nothing is guaranteed" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 1/10). NBC's Mike Tirico noted if Gruden can "put a well-coached team on the field -- plus the whole moving from Oakland to Vegas -- I think there's a lot of value in that contract beyond okay, it's a football coach making this kind of money” (“PFT,” NBCSN, 1/10).
WORTH THE HAUL? YAHOO SPORTS' Charles Robinson wrote while Gruden "won the introductory news conference," there is still a "massive gamble here." The Raiders are betting $100M on Gruden "being some semblance of the young, driven, almost maniacal head coach who rocketed to fame two decades ago." But there is a "distinct undercurrent of skepticism about Gruden in many NFL corners" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/9). THE ATHLETIC's Kawakami noted Davis "stuck around in an informal session with a handful" of reporters after the presser concluded yesterday.
GETTING TO WORK: The CHRONICLE's Kawahara notes Gruden and GM Reggie McKenzie "expect to have a collaborative working relationship." Gruden: "It’s got to be a collaborative effort, whether it be a salary cap decision, a free agent acquisition, who we draft." McKenzie: "It’s going to be a Raider decision, bottom line" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/10). NBC's Mike Florio noted Gruden yesterday "basically danced around the idea that he's going to be in charge," but the "reality is, I believe, Jon Gruden’s contract makes it clear he's in charge of the football operations and Reggie is there to set the table." After committing a reported $100M to Gruden, giving him "final control over the roster is a very small part of what it takes to get the guy to come back” (“PFT,” NBCSN, 1/10).
