Jon Gruden may be persona non grata around NFL offices, but he is apparently welcome at the Saints facility, where he was spotted during training camp this week. The former Raiders coach has worked with coach Dennis Allen’s staff throughout the offseason after the team signed his former Las Vegas quarterback, Derek Carr, to lead the offense.
After Gruden was spotted in Saints apparel at the team’s Friday practice, Allen was asked about his place with the franchise. The second-year coach did his best to downplay things, saying that Gruden does not have an official “role,” but has mostly been observing and providing “insight” for the New Orleans staff.
“He’s going to be here for the next couple of days, he’s really just observing,” Allen said. “There’s not a role we have for him. He loves football, he loves being around it. And so, he comes out here, he watches practices a little bit, and if there’s things we can visit with him about, that he can provide some insight for us, we’ll utilize it.
