In episode 2 of HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” the producers kept calling the one sure-fire winning play in their playbook: Spider 2 Y Banana, better known as keep the focus on Jon Gruden.
With controversial receiver Antonio Brown absent from camp for nearly all of the episode, the Raiders’ gregarious coach was the fail-safe focal point Tuesday night. And Gruden delivered another award-worthy effort for the cameras.
Gruden’s sometimes caustic, often times condescending, but all the time entertaining demeanor overshadowed the on-screen efforts of Raiders newcomers such as Richie Incognito and a slew of rookies, most notably defensive lineman Maxx Crosby and Alameda’s Keelan Doss.