Former Raiders head coach Gruden sues NFL and Goodell over alleged 'forced resignation'

Former head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders Jon Gruden filed a lawsuit Friday accusing the NFL and league commissioner Roger Goodell of launching a "malicious and orchestrated campaign" intent on ruining Gruden's career. 

According to the Washington Post, the lawsuit argues that Goodell and the league engaged in "a Soviet-style character assassination" against Gruden by intentionally leaking old emails that included disparaging language towards women, as well as racist and homophobic comments.                                                                                                                                    

"The complaint alleges that the defendants selectively leaked Gruden's private correspondence to the Wall Street Journal and New York Times in order to harm Gruden's reputation and force him out of his job," Gruden's attorney Adam Hosmer-Henner said in a statement to the Las Vegas Sun.

"There is no explanation or justification for why Gruden's emails were the only ones made public out of the 650,000 emails collected in the NFL's investigation of the Washington Football Team or for why the emails were held for months before being released in the middle of the Raiders' season," he concluded. 

Following the publication of his emails, Gruden resigned from the Raiders on Oct. 11, almost halfway through his 10-year contract that was worth $100 million.

The NFL responded to Gruden's claims, denying any wrongdoing.

"The allegations are entirely meritless and the NFL will vigorously defend against these claims," said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy.

Gruden's lawsuit is seeking punitive and financial damages against Goodell and the NFL for allegedly violating numerous labor laws.