Immediately after the conclusion of the 2017 NFL season, the Oakland Raiders shocked the NFL by agreeing to terms on an unprecedented 10-year, $100 million deal with head coach Jon Gruden. Gruden had spent the past several years as a broadcaster for Monday Night Football but is now in charge of leading the Raiders back to the NFL postseason.
With Gruden now manning the sidelines, Oakland’s front office needed to retrofit the roster with players who fit his vision and style of play on the field. Among the wave of free agent acquisitions, the Raiders eventually decided to cut ties with punter Marquette King.
The move came as a shock for most, but according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, it appears there was one major reason for King’s release:
There were whispers of King’s personality not clicking with Gruden’s. I should have listened better. Coach didn’t want to spend a lot of money on punter who gets personal fouls. #Raiders
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) March 30, 2018
King has been noted for his on-the-field behavior as he has been called for unnecessary fouls and penalties, making things more difficult for Oakland. Gruden has been adamant this offseason about adding seasoned players who know how to play football and it appears that King did not qualify as one of those players.
It was reported that the punter tried to visit with some members of the Raiders coaching staff, but was pulled aside by general manager Reggie McKenzie and told of his release. This goes to show that Gruden and the rest of the organization is dedicated to filling the locker room with players who fit Gruden’s football philosophy, even if it costs them talents like King.
