One team’s bust is Jon Gruden’s treasure.
Former Bills quarterback Nathan Peterman is said to be attracting a bevy of NFL suitors, according to New York Upstate, including the Oakland Raiders — whom he’ll be working out for this week, after reportedly working for the Buccaneers and Broncos.
Buffalo pulled the plug on the Peterman experiment back in November, following seven interceptions in four appearances this season.
Though Gruden has a curious relationship with his own quarterback, Derek Carr, he has long held a torch for Peterman, endorsing the Pittsburgh quarterback ahead of the 2017 draft, in which the Bills picked him in the fifth round.
“Peterman is ready to walk in and be a contributor,” Gruden wrote for ESPN, where he worked as a draft analyst as well as his “Monday Night Football” duties.
“He just looks like a pro quarterback — coming out of the huddle, running an offense with different formations, shifting, motioning, different patterns that other colleges don’t run. Peterman will recognize route combinations and associate formations.”
Gruden also noted, “Most importantly, he will be able to get in a huddle from day one and look at 10 grown men and tell them where to go and what to do and handle a versatile snap count.”
Leadership is a quality that appeals to Gruden most, given Carr’s command of the locker room has been in question for much of the season.
Following Oakland’s loss to the Seahawks in Week 6, the loss of confidence in Carr reached its breaking point. After Carr got sacked, he appeared to be crying, a moment that Raiders teammates did not appreciate, The Athletic reported.
Last month, Gruden and Carr had a heated exchange on the sidelines, though Oakland’s $100 million coach said, “It ain’t the first time it’s happened.”
“We’re both competitors, we’re competing hard there. We had a man-to-man situation, he went for the big play, and we had a mild disagreement,” Gruden said following the Raiders’ win over the Cardinals.
“We’re going to have times when we clash a little bit. We’re also very supportive of one another. I’m very proud of him. He’s been through a lot this year. I’m glad he’s our quarterback.”
The scales of power in Oakland are in Gruden’s favor, as general manager Reggie McKenzie was fired earlier this month. He is the latest out of the Raiders’ revolving door, which also has included receiver Amari Cooper and outside linebacker Khalil Mack.