The Oakland Raiders were more than happy to sign Derrick Johnson after the Kansas City Chiefs released the veteran linebacker, and Jon Gruden describes the move as just the latest in a long line of division rival theft.
In a recent conference call with Raiders season season ticket holders, Gruden was asked about the Raiders improving the middle of their defense. He took the opportunity to sing the praises of Johnson and openly wonder why the Chiefs gave him up.
“Well, we feel like we have solidified the middle of our defense big time,” Gruden said, via Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star. “We added Derrick Johnson, the all-time leading tackler in Kansas City Chief history. He started every game for them last year, they were the division champions.”
Gruden feels like the Raiders stole Johnson from KC, and he says it is not the first time that has happened.
“Last time I was here in Oakland, we stole (quarterback) Rich Gannon from Kansas City, we took (receiver) Andre Rison from the Chiefs, we took (defensive back) Albert Lewis from the Chiefs,” he recalled. “We love stealing from the Chiefs. So now we’ve got Derrick Johnson, and I’m on my way to the Raiders store to pick up a Derrick Johnson Raiders jersey. I’m going to wear it home tonight.”
When Gruden was asked which team in the AFC West he feels is the biggest threat to his, he made no bones about the fact that the Raiders and Chiefs dislike one another.
“I think as a fellow Raider I think you would agree that we don’t discriminate or we don’t doubt anybody in our division,” the coach said. “We do not like Kansas City at all and they don’t like us. And the Chargers have been an archrival for years and years, and you have to respect the Denver Broncos. But these are all fierce rivalries.”
Some would say the Raiders have a made a couple of questionable moves since Gruden took over, but we all know how much of a hype man he is. If taking swipes at the Chiefs is what fans want to hear from Gruden, he has no problem indulging them.
