Friday, November 30, 2012

Make your head spin: Vols' never offered Gruden

Sources: Vols' search not focused on Gruden
Published on ESPN.com - College Football | shared via feedly

On Wednesday, Gruden appeared on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike In The Morning" and said there was "no truth" to a report by Memphis television station WREG that he was considering an offer to coach the Vols that would also give him part ownership of the Cleveland Browns. The Browns are owned by Jimmy Haslam, the son of Tennessee's most prominent booster, Jim Haslam, the founder of Pilot Oil.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported Friday morning that Gruden was extended a lucrative offer by Tennessee and that there was no firm deadline for him to make a decision. That report said a possible holdup could be whether Gruden received enough money to assemble the staff he wanted.

However, multiple sources told ESPN.com that Gruden was never offered a contract and that specific financial parameters were not discussed when Tennessee officials talked with him last week.
Mash here.

Earlier this morning, this site relayed the report from the Times Free Press, along with an update indicating that Gruden himself closed the door on his hiring.

Earlier this week, we also relayed the report that included the Browns' denial that an ownership stake was part of Gruden's alleged offer. 

As it all turns out, Tennessee did want to meet with Gruden but he declined the opportunity. Thus, contract details--be they ownership stakes in NFL teams or hefty packages for his staff--were never discussed.

Gruden never got an offer because he made it clear he wasn't interested.

WREG and the TFP are both mainstream media organizations. If it weren't so sad to see such organizations getting caught up and running with internet rumors and sensationalist hysteria, it would be funny. 

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