Derek Carr Is Oakland Raiders Ticket To Jon Gruden

Sep 24, 2014; Bagshot, UNITED KINGDOM; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass at practice at Pennyhill Park Hotel in advance of the NFL International Series game against the Miami Dolphins. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Raiders know they can’t afford to get it wrong again on their next head coach.  So reaching out to Jon Gruden makes sense.  At age 51 he is still young by coaching standards and already has what many would consider a full career having won a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay.  However the Raiders are hoping he’ll come back and re-ignite what he built with the team 14 years ago.

Most people remember Gruden with the Buccaneers but they easily forget he was a successful coach for the Raiders prior to that.  He’d led them to three-straight playoff appearances including a birth in the AFC championship in 2000.  However, late Raiders owner Al Davis saw an opportunity to make a change and in a rare move traded Gruden to Tampa Bay for a host of draft picks.  The move seemed to pay off for both teams as they met that season in the Super Bowl, but Gruden got the last laugh as his Bucs throttled Oakland.

Now fans are hoping enough time has passed for those fences to be mended.  Gruden was the first name that came up following the firing of head coach Dennis Allen.  His reputation as a student of the game, disciplinarian and hard work seems like exactly what the new Oakland Raiders need.  The question is can they get him?

Gruden has already turned down a number of offers from teams over the past few years, electing to stay put in his cushy job as co-anchor for Monday Night Football on ESPN.  However, word has circulated recently that he may be willing to entertain a comeback provided he feels the team offering has a franchise quarterback in place.

That is where Derek Carr comes in.  The rookie 2nd round pick was one of the best in college football a year ago and is considered to have an elite skill set including mobility, intelligence and arm strength.  Gruden has never had a quarterback of that talent in his career.

Based on sources the former coach turned analyst is a big fan of Carr.  The two met during before the 2014 draft to interview, review game tape and discuss the future.

Clearly the two seemed to connect well enough.  Gruden even expresses point blank that he would take Carr if he were on the board.  That speaks for itself.  If there is any bargaining chip that the Raiders possess in order to get Jon Gruden back into the silver and black, it is Derek Carr.