Jon Gruden mad cow coaching rumor disease—the Oakland outbreak

If you follow college football, you know every vacant coaching job worth its salt includes at least one rumor about Jon Gruden—the Monday Night Football commentator and former Oakland and Tampa Bay coach—being in the mix. Now, the affliction—which is approaching urban myth Hall of Fame status—has reached into the NFL, with the Raiders feeling compelled to shoot down rumors that they’re talking to Gruden. And they’re not happy about it. The Merc’s Jerry McDonald has the official email.