text: When the Raiders hired Jon Gruden, talk of re-signing Mack surfaced immediately. In front of hundreds of fans at a gathering, Gruden vowed to ink Mack to a deal. During the summer, this dragged on and Mack did not show. Over the summer, Gruden’s tone changed rapidly. while circumstances change, telling the truth should not. During an interview with ESPN reporter Lisa Salters, Gruden stated
  “Obviously, Khalil Mack didn’t want to play here. That’s what’s being missed here,” Gruden told ESPN’s Lisa Salters.
  No, Khalil Mack wanted a raise. He rightfully felt that the Raiders needed to pay him what his talent and production commanded. Instead of admitting this, Gruden sought to change the narrative, attempting to turn the fanbase against him. This comment rings in the ears of objective, rational fans.
  For the first time in his career, Khalil Mack operates within a scheme that accentuates his talent. Despite the Bears changing coordinators, Mack enjoys phenomenal success. Playing with an actual plan works wonders. In 18 games with Chicago, Mack tallied 17 sacks and forced ten fumbles. Meanwhile, the Raiders continually fail to get into the backfield with any semblance of consistency.
  While people expect the Bears to make a Super Bowl run in the next few years, that pales in comparison to the heat on Gruden. Taking 100 million dollars of the Davis fortune, everyone demands rapid improvement from the Raiders. More importantly, ego surfaces here. You have to know that Gruden heard the whispers about winning a Super Bowl with Tony Dungy’s players. Under those circumstances, dismantling and rebuilding the Raiders needed to happen for Gruden. For the most part, the roster mirrors his vision. As a result, the onus to win also falls solely on his shoulders.