Feb. 5
Here's what the actions of the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay
Buccaneers over the past few days confirm: Jon Gruden is the hottest property in the NFL, and Al
Davis has gone mad.
|  |
| Al Davis |
How else can you explain the stonewalling of Davis, who has an offer
from the Buccaneers that, according to league sources, would amount to the
largest compensation ever offered for an NFL coach?
If he does not accept an offer, presumably by a Wednesday deadline,
Davis is validating that Gruden is worthy of being the league's highest-paid
coach. And, right now, the Redskins' Steve Spurrier makes $5 million per
year while Gruden checks in with $1.2 million.
Or, we can assume that Davis no longer has a grasp on what it takes
to exist in this league. His team is getting old. One of the few young stars
he has, defensive tackle Darrell Russell, is in such trouble off the field
that it would be a major development if he ever plays again.
The Bucs have offered a package that equals or exceeds the four
draft picks that the New York Jets paid to the New England Patriots for Bill
Parcells at the end of the 1996 season, sources said. Bucs general manager Rich McKay has told
Davis that the team is willing to sub and/or exchange cash and a veteran
player to complete the transaction, the sources added.
|  |
| Jon Gruden |
Davis and the Raiders can use the draft picks and/or a key veteran
player. I don't know who that is. Maybe Warren Sapp. Either way, the Raiders
have a better opportunity to rebuild by acquiring compensation from the Bucs
for Gruden, who will walk after the 2002 season when his contract expires.
In that scenario, the Raiders will get nothing for him after next season. And even if the
benefit is that Gruden coaches one more year in an effort to reach the
Super Bowl, there is such ill will growing between the two parties that 2002
could be worse than ever imagined.
If Davis really values Gruden to the highest possible standard, as
his actions indicate, then he was foolhardy to reject a five-year, $15
million proposal from the coach in December. That was a bargain in today's
market.
The only other bargain Davis can get is to grab Tampa Bay's offer
and hit the speed dial to get Dennis Green on board.
I guess that makes too much sense.
