The Jon Gruden rumors hit fever pitch last night when it was reported that the former Vols coach was returning to Tennessee. There were also reports that that Gruden would be taking part ownership of the Cleveland Browns.
Unfortunately it doesn’t look like either of those rumors are true.
According to WREG in Memphis , Gruden was offered a contract from the University of Tennessee to be their next head coach. The Vols sweetened the deal by offering an ownership stake in the Cleveland Browns.
Awful Announcing reports that the Vols were able to offer the deal because new Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is a Tennessee Booster.
Gruden and the Clevaland Browns have both denied the rumors.
A Browns spokesman released a statement saying:
“Jimmy Haslam has no involvement in the University of Tennessee head coaching search, and the report that Jon Gruden would potentially have an ownership stake in the Browns is completely erroneous.”
Gruden also addressed the rumors on Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio .
Here’s the video of Gruden talking on Mike Mike.
So there you have it. The Jon Gruden rumors have once again proved false. Gruden has denied out. The Browns have denied it. And according to John Infante of the Bylaw Blog , the NCAA has rules in place that would have made the deal illegal.
Infante writes: “NCAA rules prohibit boosters from supplementing the pay of coaches. Any pay or benefits must come from the university.”
The one good thing that has come from the Jon Gruden rumors are all of the fan made videos pleading with Gruden to become their new coach.
