Manning, Woodson part of Gruden’s history lesson
NAPA — Jon Gruden has been doing his best to educate young players on NFL history, even as he sometimes marvels at their lack of knowledge.
Speaking of his first go-round with the Oakland Raiders, Gruden said, “I had guys on my team who didn’t know who Jack Tatum was. Who didn’t know who Art Shell was. When I did Gruden’s QB camp, I’d show old footage of Tim Brown. They didn’t know who Tim Brown was. These were quarterbacks, guys who were thriving. Up and coming prospects.”
There will be no such problem Thursday, as former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was at the Napa Valley Marriott to speak with the Raiders. Nor was it a problem Wednesday night, when Charles Woodson addressed the team.
Gruden believes there is much insight to be gained from great players, whether the young ones know who they are or not.
“It’s a great way to learn,” Gruden told the Bay Area News Group. “Why is this guy a Hall of Fame player? Let me tell you why Jerry Rice is in the Hall of Fame. Let me show you why Jerry Rice is in the Hall of Fame. “Maybe you can steal some things. That’s what I’ve learned from a lot of great players. They’re always borrowing and stealing and tweaking their schedules, tweaking their diet.”
Manning’s singular devotion to the NFL always impressed Gruden. The two became friends when Gruden coached the AFC team at the Pro Bowl following the 2000 season. Visits to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis usually included a visit to Manning’s home to watch film and talk strategy over a couple of beverages.
Gruden even used his admiration for Manning to tweak his own starter Rich Gannon. When Gruden did a weekly diary for NFL.com in 2001 (I was his ghost writer), he said he called Manning “The Sheriff” and Gannon “The Deputy.” The idea was to thicken Gannon’s skin.
Then at practice, Gruden instructed the support staff he brought from the Raiders to Honolulu to gaze in admiration when Manning was going through passing drills. Standing on the sidelines, they would go “Oooh” and “Ahh” at every throw. When it was Gannon’s turn, they remained silent.
Finally, after Manning threw an errant pass, Gannon approached the sideline and barked, “There! What did
you think of that one?”
At which point everybody had a good laugh.
Woodson, in town tending to his wine business, beat Manning for the Heisman Trophy in 1997 and was drafted by the Raiders in 1998, Gruden’s first season as head coach.
Gruden likes having speakers, but said time constraints will prevent too many more from talking with the team.
“This first year we’re not having a lot of outside guys coming in,” Gruden said. “We don’t have enough meeting time as it is. The league has a lot of speakers that come in, talk to you about the media, the rules, all that stuff. Not a lot of time to talk right now. But Peyton’s here, Charles is here. We’ll reach out to a couple of my favorite guys.”