Jon Gruden used a racist remark to describe NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith, according to the WSJ

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Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden reacts to the crowd during warm-ups before a pre-season game against the Seattle Seahawks at Allegiant Stadium on August 14, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ethan Miller | Getty Images

Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden used racist language to describe the leader of the National Football League Players Association, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

Gruden used anti-black images to describe NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith in an email sent to a team official on July 21, 2011, according to the Journal.

“Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of michellin tires,” Gruden wrote in the email to Bruce Allen, the former president of the franchise now known as the Washington Football Team, the Journal reported.

The NFL is reviewing Gruden’s status with the Raiders for potential discipline, the Journal reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

In response to the report on Gruden’s remark, Smith said it was not the first racist comment he had received and “it probably won’t be the last.”

“It’s a thick skin job for someone with dark skin, as it always has been for many people who look like me and work in American companies,” Smith said in a statement. “You know, sometimes people say racist things behind your back, just like you see people talking and writing about you using racist, lightly coded language. “

When Gruden sent the email, the NFL and its players were trying to resolve a lockout, the Journal reported. This is a work stoppage imposed by the owners of the league which lasted from March 12, 2011 to July 25, 2011.

In this July 25, 2011 file photo, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, left, and NFL Football Commissioner Roger Goodell attend a press conference at the NFL Players Association in Washington.

Carolyn Kaster | AP Photo

As NFL owners voted to ratify a new collective agreement on July 21, the players withdrew from the vote.

Gruden cited the lockout as having upset him at the time of his racist remarks, according to the Journal. He said he did not trust the position of the NFL players, who were led by Smith, in the negotiations.

Gruden added that he had called people who he said were “rubber lips” as “rubber lips” in the past, and that he had gone “too far,” according to the Journal.

“I was upset,” Gruden told the Journal. “I used a horrible way of explaining it.”

“I don’t think he’s stupid. I don’t think he’s a liar,” Gruden said. “I don’t have a racial bone in my body, and I’ve proven that for 58 years.”

The revelation of Gruden’s remark comes as Smith’s post as NFLPA executive director is on the line.

On Tuesday evening, the NFLPA executive committee voted on whether Smith should be allowed to stay in the post he has held for the past 12 years, ESPN reported on Wednesday. The 14-member committee was evenly divided in a 7-7 vote.

The 32 player representatives on the NFLPA team are expected to vote on Smith’s status on Friday at 6 p.m. ET, according to ESPN.

CNBC’s Jabari Young contributed to this report.

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