ALAMEDA – Jon Gruden talked to Khalil Mack shortly after he returned to the Raiders as head coach.
Then there was a communication breakdown as the edge rusher withheld services all spring and summer looking for a massive contract extension. Radio silence ended on Saturday, when Gruden bid him farewell.
A hello, then a goodbye eight months later.
That was it after Gruden traded Mack to Chicago for a compensation package that included two first-round picks.
That was not how Gruden wanted to resolve Mack’s holdout. Mack was an attraction when he pondered returning to coach the Silver and Black.