What did Jon Gruden say, Jon Gruden has filed a lawsuit against the NFL and Roger Goodell for allegedly leaking emails that led to Gruden’s departure.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, former Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden filed a lawsuit against the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday, alleging the league and Goodell of attempting to ruin his career via a “malicious and coordinated campaign.”
According to the complaint, Goodell and the NFL published racist and anti-gay emails written by Gruden in order to “damage Jon Gruden’s career and reputation.” According to the complaint, the NFL reportedly disclosed other emails to the New York Times in order to guarantee Gruden resigned or was fired. It alleged that as a result of such emails, Gruden was “forced to quit.”
Gruden’s lawyer, Adam Hosmer-Henner, confirmed the lawsuit to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Hosmer-Henner said that Gruden will seek damages on seven different grounds.
As part of the league’s investigation into the Washington Football Team’s misbehaviour, around 650,000 emails were examined. Only those emails exchanged by Gruden were released.
Gruden used racist and anti-gay rhetoric in letters to former Washington club president Bruce Allen, according to the emails. In the emails, Gruden allegedly branded Goodell a “fa—t” and a “clueless anti-football p—y.” He also made a remark about then-St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher selecting “queers,” referring to former defensive end Michael Sam. Sam came out as homosexual before the 2014 NFL Draft. In addition, Gruden used racist words to disparage NFLPA President DeMaurice Smith, who is Black.
According to Hosmer-Henner, “there is no rationale or justification” for Gruden being the sole individual named in the leak. Hosmer-Henner also questioned the timing of the leaks, alleging that the emails were stored for months before being disclosed when the Raiders began playing regular season games.
The NFL has refused to share the results of the WFT inquiry
Following an investigation into the Washington Football Organization’s working culture, the NFL penalised the team $10 million. This decision drew fire from several quarters, including Congress, which demanded that the NFL give over information connected to the probe. Goodell stayed firm in his support of the league’s penalty and refused to provide the records.
Congress was not the only one that pressed Goodell to disclose the complete study. Raiders owner Mark Davis has demanded that the league divulge its findings. Davis also called the timing of the email disclosures that led to Gruden’s departure into doubt.
In the weeks after his departure, Gruden threatened the NFL with legal action, claiming that “the truth will come out” regarding the email controversy.
The NFL denied disclosing Gruden’s emails in October.
