It’s hard to deny that Jon Gruden has made some questionable moves since his homecoming, most notably his decision to trade away a generational talent in Khalil Mack. However, Gruden has not made any moves without keeping the bigger picture in mind.
In fact, Jon Gruden is doing exactly what any coach with a ten-year contract ought to do.
The truth is simple. Gruden’s Raiders aren’t playing for Oakland (or Phoenix, or Fresno, or London, or wherever the hell they’ll end up next season)- they’re playing for Vegas.
After leaving New England on account of disagreements with Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft, legendary head coach Bill Parcells told the press, “It’s just like a friend of mine told me, if they want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries.