ORLANDO, Fla. -- Jon Gruden did not exactly leave the Oakland Raiders on the best of terms in February 2002.
Gruden was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two first-round draft picks, a pair of second-rounders and $8 million -- “I would have traded me for a bag of donuts,” Gruden joked. He was never told by Al Davis why, exactly, he was being moved after four seasons as Oakland Raiders head coach, two division titles and an appearance in the AFC title game.
Of course, there were conspiracy theories that had Gruden and his alter ego “Chucky” becoming too, ahem, big for Davis’ liking.