ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Jon Gruden called his rookies together Friday morning, smoke from the carnage of the Oakland Raiders' 34-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers still wafting about.
A day later, the Raiders told veteran defensive end Bruce Irvin they were releasing him.
Yeah, there is a youth movement afoot in Oakland, so to speak, and with the Raiders 1-7 at the season's midway point, it is time for the newbies to assume new roles.
"He was just telling us that he needs more," rookie defensive end Arden Key said of Gruden's message.