Never one to shy away from conflict, Barstool Sports boss Dave Portnoy is defending one of his own from another pirate ship captain for insinuating he shouldn’t get a new job. On the Thursday, Jan. 9 edition of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, host Dan Le Batard commented on the news that former Raiders head coach and new Barstool Sports employee Jon Gruden could return to the organization for a third time.
“Jon Gruden, his name being mentioned near anything should cause shame eternally for everyone involved with that league,” Le Batard said. “The idea that he can be recycled into something after what was done publicly…but that guy with those crimes going right to the top of the food chain again for the top of the jobs…because the way to do all this stuff is to just be on television, one of these football teams will think that’s enough.”
Portnoy took offense to the word “crimes” being used and took to X to retaliate.
Gruden resigned from the Raiders during his second stint as coach back in 2021 when private emails to former Washington Commanders executive Bruce Allen were leaked. In those emails, Gruden made many homophobic, racial, and misogynistic comments in casual conversation, including some directed at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
For now, it seems that both sides aren’t interested in continuing this conflict, but eyes will be on Le Batard’s Friday show to see if any words are aimed in Portnoy’s direction.
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