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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jdavis" data-source="post: 587575" data-attributes="member: 8704">I don't remember it ever being called a trade, it definatly wasn't. Al Davis didn't want to extend Gruden's contract to pay Gruden what he was worth. Gruden interviewed for the Tampa Bay job, just as several people did (including Steve Mariucci of the 49rs). Al Davis ran Tampa over the coals in order for him to let Gruden out of the last year of his contract. If they had waited till next year they could of gotten him without giving Oakland anything, unfortuantly they fired their other coach and looked like idiots (thanks to Bill Parcells) and had to do something quick. it was in no way a trade he wished to leave Oakland (as many coaches do after working for Al Davis), Oakland let him leave because Al Davis knew he could get money and draft picks out of a desperate Tampa Bay, not in exchange for Gruden but in exchange for letting Gruden out of his contract one year early. Gruden would of been a lame duck in Oakland if he had stayed, now he is one of the highest paid coaches in the league and has 10x the power over team decisions than he had in Oakland. He wanted to leave and Al Davis got a deal he couldn't refuse to let him go, if not he would still be in Oakland coaching this year and unhappy about it. (Deep Breath)Some things to look at is that Steve Mariucci turned down the Tampa Bay job, Mariucci and Gruden are good friends, they were both assistant coaches under Mike Holmgren in Green Bay, Mike Holmgren was a assistant coach in San Fransico before going to Green Bay. It's like "a family affair". These two coaches know each other up and down and will be completely prepared for this game. There is a lot of history between the two of them and 49rs organization.</blockquote>

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