Oakland Raiders Rumors: No interest in hiring Bruce Allen?
The NFL rumor mill isn’t buying one particular name associated with the Oakland Raiders’ search for a new general manager.
When Washington Redskins team president Bruce Allen came up as a potential replacement for former general manager Reggie McKenzie, some within the Oakland Raiders fanbase cringed at the possibility.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Raiders don’t have Allen at the forefront of their list of potential general manager candidates.
Chris Russell of 106.7 The Fan took a stronger stance based on his sources close to the matter, stating there’s “zero interest” in Allen via Twitter:
I am thinking here that Rap is just speculating & connecting dots. I'll say it again & maybe I am being lied too but multiple sources have stated, as recent as yesterday, Jon Gruden has ZERO interest in bringing Bruce Allen to OAK/Vegas & does not hold him in high regard at all. https://t.co/64EgyvSugW
— Chris Russell AKA the 🐓🐓! (@Russellmania621) December 10, 2018
Allen worked with head coach Jon Gruden during their time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He served as the general manager between the 2004-08 campaigns. After the two were relieved of their duties, Allen resurfaced with the Redskins at the end of the 2009 term.
Under Allen’s watch, the Redskins have a 41-68 record. In 12 seasons, his teams have made the playoffs on three occasions but went 0-3—losing in the NFC Wild Card Round each time. On the flip side, Washington won two division titles with him at the helm.
This season, Washington looked well on its way to earning a playoff berth until injuries struck the roster. The team lost quarterback Alex Smith (broken leg) along with starting offensive guards Shawn Lauvao (ACL) and Brandon Scherff (pectoral) for the season. The Redskins have lost four consecutive games leading into Week 15.
Recently, the team became subject of scrutiny after signing Reuben Foster. The San Francisco 49ers released the second-year linebacker after his ex-girlfriend filed domestic violence charges on him prior to the team’s Week 12 contest against the Buccaneers, per San Francisco Chronicle reporter Eric Branch.
If the Raiders even considered Allen, it would raise some eyebrows around the league considering his lack of success building a playoff contender.
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Gruden hasn’t confirmed any names, but those who oppose the idea of hiring Allen could take a deep breath for now. At this point, it’s still anyone’s guess as to who the Raiders have on their short list.
When asked about potential candidates, expect Gruden to respond with a focus on winning games and finishing the 2018 campaign on a strong note. It’s a critical decision that may impact the Raiders’ approach to free agency and their draft board in April.