Graney: Raiders players say Gruden’s emails played no part in loss

Jon Gruden wasn’t going to gully a transportation betwixt however his shot squad performed Sunday to what transpired the erstwhile 48 hours. Wasn’t going down that road.

Decide for yourself, then.

The Raiders, successful the aftermath of their manager having written a 2011 email successful which helium utilized a racist remark successful notation to NFL Players Association enforcement manager DeMaurice Smith, offered 1 of their much unfocused and undisciplined and uninspired efforts successful immoderate time.

They lost to the Chicago Bears 20-9 astatine an Allegiant Stadium that was seemingly coated successful arsenic overmuch orangish arsenic metallic and black.

In 1 mode — a blessing of sorts — things look to beryllium moving arsenic authorities officials hoped erstwhile approving $750 cardinal successful nationalist backing toward the gathering of this 65,000-seat structure. Tourists from visiting teams are flocking to Las Vegas. Purchasing crippled tickets, staying successful hotels, eating astatine restaurants, gambling astatine tables.

In different — a curse of sorts — you person the Raiders utilizing soundless counts due to the fact that of the pro-opponent noise.

If lone that was Gruden’s lone contented this past week.

If lone losing 2 consecutive games aft a 3-0 commencement was his biggest concern.

Players react

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday astir Gruden’s email regarding Smith, and ESPN followed with a study Sunday that Gruden besides disparaged NFL commissioner Roger Goodell with a vulgar statement successful another.

Gruden is nether reappraisal by the NFL and his ain team.

He addressed players earlier the WSJ communicative broke, and those made disposable aft Sunday’s nonaccomplishment were steadfast: That astatine nary constituent did immoderate of it origin them to suffer focus.

That it wasn’t a lawsuit of emails producing specified a haphazard effort.

They conscionable didn’t play well. Like astatine all.

“I don’t deliberation (the emails) had thing to bash with today,” moving backmost Josh Jacobs said. “(Gruden) came to america and got it each out. I’ve been astir this feline for 3 years now, and I’ve ne'er felt a definite benignant of way. He ne'er rubbed maine that benignant of way. He said what helium said astatine the extremity of the day, too. But I decidedly spot him. It was 10 years ago. People grow.”

Added antiaircraft extremity Yannick Ngakoue: “I wouldn’t accidental determination was immoderate reaction. We were focused connected the game. We were disquieted astir Chicago. I person nary remark connected (the emails).”

I’m not definite from wherever immoderate imaginable subject for Gruden arrives. The league. The Raiders. But this isn’t going distant until a last determination is made successful that realm.

His squad connected the tract was arsenic atrocious Sunday successful parts arsenic the quality surrounding him disconnected it.

The Raiders couldn’t tally the shot down a wounded and ineffective line. They couldn’t walk protect. They dropped balls. They were penalized 10 times for 82 yards. They had a touchdown called back. They didn’t travel adjacent to winning each 3 phases.

Result wasn’t changing

And afterward, an affectional Gruden addressed the arguable unreality that has hovered supra him and the Raiders the past fewer days.

“I’m not a racist,” Gruden said. “I can’t archer you however sick I am. I’m a feline that takes pridefulness successful starring and bringing radical unneurotic and volition proceed to bash truthful the remainder of my life. I apologize to anyone who was offended. We’ll spot what happens successful the adjacent fewer days. I cognize the (emails) tin hurt. I’m not similar that. It’s not who I am. I apologize.”

Look. They request each sorts of assistance with that line. Things either get amended up beforehand oregon winning immoderate crippled volition beryllium a challenge. I’m reasoning that played a bigger relation successful the nonaccomplishment than Gruden’s problems. Things were disconnected from the jump.

Emails. Poor execution. Pick one.

The good effect wasn’t changing.

You decide.

Ed Graney is simply a Sigma Delta Chi Award victor for sports file penning and tin beryllium reached astatine egraney@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-383-4618. He tin beryllium heard connected “The Press Box,” ESPN Radio 100.9 FM and 1100 AM, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday done Friday. Follow @edgraney connected Twitter.