Rumor of Jon Gruden to the Oakland Raiders creates the appearance of an ESPN conflict of interest

The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Monday Night Football analyst is likely to become the next Oakland Raiders head coach. Yet ESPN still has Gruden calling Saturday's NFL playoff game involving one of the Raiders' chief rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs. As part of his preparation for the game, Gruden -- who previously coached the Raiders from 1998 to 2001 -- is supposed to be given in-depth access to the Chiefs' game plan, which would create the appearance of a conflict of interest. (Gruden is good friends with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, whom he coached with on the Green Bay Packers.) Asked this morning if he’ll become the next Raiders head coach, Gruden said: “Well, I think I am being considered, yes. I hope I’m a candidate.” It was ESPN that first broke the news that ESPN employee Gruden would become the next Raiders head coach.