Grumours are true about Gruden
‘I’m preparing myself to come back’
Grumour season — a.k.a. the time when ESPN colour commentator Jon Gruden’s name is connected with nearly every big-time job opening in the National Football League and college football — traditionally starts around Thanksgiving, when coaches start getting fired. But this year we’re getting big-time Grumours in July, thanks to the man himself.
“I’ve met with several people — I won’t deny that,” Gruden told Pewter Report. “People — just about every year I talk about coming back to coach. I’m not in here every day at 4:30 or 4:00 in the morning watching pinball. You know? I’m preparing myself to come back. I am. Every day. I’m preparing to come back.
“It helps me in my broadcasting and I think if you lose that edge ... you can’t come back unless you are totally wired with college football, personnel, schemes, the CBA, how people are practicing, trends, you know. You’ve got stay on top of this stuff.”
Gruden last coached in 2008 with the Bucs and reportedly is ESPN’s highest-paid commenta- tor at $6.5 million per year. He says he likes his role in the “Monday Night Football” booth, but it doesn’t quite scratch his coaching itch.
“I love ESPN,” Gruden said. “I mean I love what I’m doing. I’m with a great team — a great group of guys. I’m still real close to the game. I still stay in contact with a lot of players and coaches at the league at every level. I don’t know if [all the talk] is flattering or irritating. I don’t really pay attention to a lot of it. But I am — every year — preparing myself to coach. Sometimes I show up at camp and I show up in the off-season and people let me coach. I jump in drills and they still let me install plays and call plays at some places. I still have a lot of fun.”
It seems like Gruden only has eyes for the NFL. The most recent Grumour season featured Gruden’s name connected with both the Los Angeles Rams, who hired Redskins offensive co-ordinator Sean McVay, and the Indianapolis Colts, who retained the eternally hot-seated Chuck Pagano but replaced GM Ryan Grigson.