OAKLAND, CA – AUGUST 10: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders looks on from the sidelines against the Detroit Lions in the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on August 10, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden finally gives his take on the Khalil Mack trade
As many know by now, the Oakland Raiders shocked the world when they traded All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears. Mack was holding out over a contract dispute, which many can argue he rightfully deserved, but the Raiders brass disagreed.
Mack was eventually traded to the Bears shortly before the regular season began for a slew of draft picks.
The question is will that ever be enough for a player of Mack’s caliber? Oakland’s high-profile head coach, Jon Gruden, seems to think so and he finally ended his silence about the trade in an exclusive interview with ESPN:
Coach Gruden distinctively explained how Mack was under contract and he clearly didn’t want to play for the Raiders. Gruden then emphatically stated how he wanted players who actually wanted to be there and help his team win games.
The Bears wasted no time after they acquired Mack in making him the highest-paid defensive player of all-time. Mack made his Bears debut last night against the Green Bay Packers and put on an absolute show despite his team’s loss.
It’s no surprise that Gruden is defending his decision to trade one of the most prolific defensive players in the NFL today, and its notable since the Raiders will play their first game of the 2018 season tonight against the Los Angeles Rams.