Gruden Is Calling Someone Stupid

December 15, 2008 at 02:45pm by Scott   •  No Comments »

In a press conference today, Jon Gruden re-iterated his assertion that Joey Galloway is being held out because both he and Antonio Bryant play the Z and that there just isn’t room for both of them.

Responding to a question about WR Joey Galloway’s recent inactivity, Gruden said: “the versatility issues play into the problem. He’s a split end. Antonio (Bryant) is a split end.” Gruden also praised Antonio Bryant’s play this season, declaring him the comeback player of the year.

Bryant should be the primary Z receiver, no doubt. Galloway has been out and he has choked away a couple chances at being relevant again. But don’t pretend like the slot is somehow a foreign concept to him. He has done well in the slot before. Off the top of my head, how about that sweet catch last year against Arizona? Go to this video and forward to about the 1:00 mark. A 28-yard catch and run out of the slot. If a jackass like me can remember a play like that, you know a lot of other people do, too.

Now, maybe Gruden doesn’t have the confidence that Galloway won’t go across the middle and pull up in the face of oncoming defensive traffic. Maybe he thinks he’ll get alligator arms when he sees Lawyer Milloy bearing down on him. That’s a legitimate reason to not play him in the slot. But Bryant doesn’t need a breather once in a while? You never, ever need a split end on each side of the line? It seems to me that he’s not getting played because Gruden has lost all confidence in him. And that’s a different reason than “He’s a split end.”

Why don’t reporters challenge him on that? Dig! Gruden’s answers to press conference questions are about as easy to predict as an Amy Winehouse STD. Anticipate those answers and have relevant rebuttals and evidence to the contrary ready.

Reporter: Why was Joey Galloway inactive for this game?
Gruden: He’s a split end. Antonio Bryant is a split end.
Reporter: But Galloway has made plenty of plays out of the slot. Wouldn’t his speed be useful on quick slants or seam routes out of that position.
Gruden: Okay, you caught me. I fucking hate the dude.

Granted, that’s probably not what he would have said, but the answer would have been interesting, or at the very least somewhat informative. Jesus H. Christ with a beer belly, the fastest player on the team is in street clothes! Find out why! If Gruden honestly believes that Brian Clark gives the team a better chance to win than Galloway, I accept that. He’s seen the film — he knows what’s going on. And, in all honesty, yesterday Clark probably did more to help the game than Galloway would have. But don’t accept a weak ass answer that wouldn’t satisfy a high school reporter.