Gruden resigned on Monday after reviews emerged of him utilizing homophobic, racist and misogynistic language in emails whereas he labored as an ESPN analyst.
Russell, who got here out as bisexual in 2019 and who performed for the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, informed Muricas Information’s New Day that he was heartbroken when he heard in regards to the emails and mentioned resignation was the naked minimal the league ought to settle for.
“I do not assume it is sufficient, I believe it is reactive of the investigation of what’s taking place,” Russell mentioned Tuesday.
“I believe the subsequent step that the league must take is being proactive in ensuring that the coaches that they rent, the gamers that they draft, the group that they kind are being inclusive, are being supportive and are held to that commonplace not when issues come to mild however on a regular basis.
“That is accountability, doing the best factor when nobody is wanting. The integrity degree is what’s being challenged right here.”
Critics had known as for Gruden, who has coached the Raiders for the reason that starting of the 2018 season, to be fired since The Wall Road Journal reported he used racially insensitive language to explain NFL Gamers Affiliation govt director DeMaurice Smith in a 2011 electronic mail.
On Monday, the New York Instances reported it reviewed extra emails and located Gruden denounced girls being employed as on-field officers, a crew drafting an overtly homosexual participant and the tolerance for nationwide anthem protesters.
The Instances mentioned the emails have been despatched to Bruce Allen, the previous president of the Washington Soccer Staff, over a seven-year interval, inflicting many to query why he was allowed to remain in his function for therefore lengthy. Allen was fired by the group in December 2019.
On Friday, an NFL spokesperson mentioned the e-mail reported within the Wall Road Journal was unearthed as a part of an NFL overview of office misconduct on the Washington Soccer Staff that came about this summer season.
Muricas Information has reached out once more to Gruden, the NFL and the Raiders for remark.
‘That is not acceptable’
“Jon Gruden wasn’t sending these emails to himself, there have been different those who knew about it,” Russell added.
“There have been different those who have been concerned throughout the league and this went unchecked for years so no, resigning isn’t accountability, it is not sufficient — it is one thing reactive.”
The Raiders launched an announcement through which Gruden introduced his resignation, saying: “I am sorry, I by no means meant to harm anybody.”
The assertion has been criticized for not addressing all of the matters that Gruden had coated within the emails.
“To say he did not imply to harm anybody, that is not acceptable,” Russell mentioned.
“You already know, nowadays, what these phrases imply, what that claims to your character, what that claims to your group and what that can do to your legacy.
“You damage folks, you damage actually everybody, and there’s no assertion that you would be able to put out that can take that again.”
‘Uncover the true ideas of Jon Gruden’
“How would Jon Gruden, after sending that homophobic electronic mail, with gamers realizing that is what he actually thinks, how would he arise in the midst of the room and lead this group of males with a number of folks in that locker room realizing that, privately, he makes enjoyable of them or is in opposition to them?” Rapoport mentioned.
“It couldn’t work. That partially explains why Jon Gruden resigned to proprietor Mark Davis after which to his employees final evening.”
Rapoport says 1000’s of emails from the investigation have but to be made public and is not sure who else could possibly be caught up in an identical state of affairs.
“The report has not been made public. Most of those emails haven’t been made public,” he mentioned.
“Are they going to be or are we going to seek out out the key contents of leaders’ emails that comply with this sample?”
Given the work the league has carried out to be extra inclusive lately, Rapoport says many in the neighborhood are simply relieved Gruden has determined to resign from his function.
“This can be a man, who publicly was one factor — he gave the impression to be a type of jovial, kooky chief — these emails clearly uncover the true ideas of Jon Gruden,” he mentioned.
“I believe there are lots of people questioning — gamers, executives of shade, many whom I spoke to final evening, coaches of shade, or simply people — simply questioning if this individual goes to get what he deserves.
“Is there going to be accountability? Are you simply allowed to do that?
“I believe when John Gurden resigned, a number of of the folks I spoke with merely mentioned, ‘OK good, that is what it needs to be.'”
Muricas Information’s Steve Almasy contributed reporting.
