Gruden Says Start Cousins

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

He didn't take Oakland to the SB but that was his team. That was his offense. He made Rich Gannon into a star. Made Brad Johnson into a SB QB. If I'm Dan Snyder, Jon Gruden is the first person that I'm getting on the phone. I think he's just what this team needs.

I apologize folks, I stand corrected. BUT...... If he can take the Raiders from last place in the AFC division to lead it 3 yrs in a row and post a 12-4 season? I'll take that everytime.

Under Gruden, the Raiders posted consecutive 8–8 seasons in 1998 and 1999, and leapt out of last place in the AFC West. After uniting with journeyman quarterback Rich Gannon, Gruden led the Raiders to the top of the AFC West and made the playoffs three straight seasons (the third time under Head Coach Bill Callahan). Oakland finished 12–4 in the 2000 season, the team's most successful in a decade, and its first division title since 1990, ultimately reaching the AFC Championship, where they lost 16–3 to the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. While Gruden was with the Raiders, Gruden acquired his nickname "Chucky" from Raiders defensive lineman Grady Jackson, who thought that the coach looked like the fictional character "Chucky" in the 1988 movie Child's Play.