UNDATED (AP) — Jon Gruden has sued Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL.
The former Raiders coach is alleging that a “malicious and orchestrated campaign” was used to destroy Gruden’s career by leaking old offensive emails from him.
Gruden resigned as Raiders coach following the publication of his emails by the Wall Street Journal and New York Times.
The emails were sent to former Washington Football Team executive Bruce Allen from 2011 to 2018 during Gruden’s time as an announcer at ESPN. They included racist, misogynistic and homophobic comments. They came from a set of 650,000 emails obtained during an investigation into the workplace culture of the Washington Football Team.
Gruden’s attorney says the league “selectively leaked Gruden’s private correspondence to harm Gruden’s reputation and force him out of his job.” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy called the allegations “entirely meritless.”
In other NFL news:
— Browns running back Nick Chubb will miss Sunday’s game at New England. Chubb was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday along with punt returner/running back Demetric Felton as the Browns dealt with a minor virus outbreak this week with five positive tests. Felton will also miss Sunday.
— Saints running back Alvin Kamara, starting left tackle Terron Armstead and prominent defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson have been ruled out of Sunday’s game at Tennessee. Kamara has not practiced this week after injuring his knee during a loss last Sunday to Atlanta.
— The Bills will be without starting middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds Sunday at the Jets. Edmunds did not practice this week after sustaining a hamstring injury in a 9-6 loss at Jacksonville last weekend.
— The Titans will be without starting linebacker David Long Jr. on Sunday against the Saints. The Titans declared Long out Friday after the linebacker missed practice all week with an injured hamstring.
— Quarterback Kyler Murray was back at practice Friday, potentially giving the Cardinals a boost heading into Sunday’s home game against the Panthers. Murray missed a game for the first time in his three-year career last weekend against the 49ers because of an ankle injury.
— Denver offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has contracted COVID-19 and is all but certain to miss Sunday’s game against the Eagles. Coach Vic Fangio won’t say who will call the plays but he said quarterbacks coach Mike Shula will be the one in quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s ear at least relaying those calls to Denver’s starter.
