Las Vegas Raiders: Jon Gruden doesn’t gel with elite talent
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders continued their confusing run with Jon Gruden calling the shots, as Rodney Hudson asked to be released on Tuesday.
The Las Vegas Raiders made a splash in the worst way on Tuesday, releasing their best offensive lineman in center Rodney Hudson. Not only is Hudson the best offensive lineman on this roster, but he is also widely considered the best center in the NFL, and this one was certainly a head-scratcher.
After word of his release began to circulate, it was found that Hudson actually asked to be released, ending an incredible run with the franchise. His release was a shock, but when it comes to elite talent, Jon Gruden and those upper-level players have never gelled since he returned to the franchise.
Since Gruden has returned to the Raiders, he has made a history of elite players finding their way out of the franchise. From trading away Khalil Mack before the 2018 season to doing the same to Amari Cooper during the year, Gruden seems allergic to keeping talented players around him.
While Cooper is not on Mack’s level, he was one of the best players on the team, and Gruden found a way to get him out of the Silver and Black.
Raiders continue to move on from elite players
In his first run with the team, Gruden seemingly attracted the elite players, getting great play from future Hall of Famers in Tim Brown, Jerry Rice, and Charles Woodson. Since 2018, even holdover players have wanted out, as Mack reportedly would not play for Gruden, and now Hudson has asked to be released.
When Gruden returned, he said players were ‘dying to play for the Raiders,’ and maybe that just is not the case. They have
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We will know soon what the reason was for Hudson to asked to be shown the door, as if he retires, it was because he felt he was done, and if he moves on to play somewhere else, it was the franchise that made him want to leave. Still, releasing Hudson is a huge loss for the Silver and Black, and unless Gruden can pull off a miracle, Derek Carr will be running for his life next season.