Raiders coach Jon Gruden on Antonio Brown ‘I’m not going to get into the relationship business’

Following a disappointing first campaign under head coach Jon Gruden, the Oakland Raiders have taken many steps toward improving the team ahead of the 2019 campaign.

One of which was the addition of star wide receiver Antonio Brown in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. With that in mind, it has shifted the focus over toward the relationship between Brown and Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr to which Gruden has voiced no concerns about it, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.

“I’m not going to get into the relationship business,” Gruden said. “I think Brown is a great guy. I love having him here. Derek is a great guy. You can’t rush a relationship. You just don’t have a great relationship in three weeks or two months. It’s something that you’ve got to earn and you’ve got to really work and, and that’s why it’s important that we spend time together. I’m a little worn out with all the relationships and all the things that really don’t matter right now.”

Gruden is currently confident that Brown and Carr with continue to build their relationship and chemistry with each other on the field. The All-Pro wideout is expected to step right into the role of being their top receiving threat in the passing game.

Meanwhile, the addition of Brown brings a major asset to the passing game that the team has lacked and could help Carr recapture his MVP form from a couple of seasons ago. The Raiders are hoping that these two can be a highly dependable basis for their offensive game plan.

This only further heightens the importance of both Carr and Brown to continue to build on their chemistry and familiarity with each other in the offseason and the preseason.