Raiders Rumors: Jon Gruden Cut Marquette King for 'Personality' Issues

Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden reportedly spearheaded the decision to cut Marquette King in part because of the punter's "personality."

"There were whispers of King's personality not clicking with Gruden's," Vic Tafur of The Athletic tweeted. "I should have listened better. Coach didn't want to spend a lot of money on punter who gets personal fouls."

Tafur also noted the move saved the Raiders $2.9 million against the salary cap.

The report echoes one from Bill Williamson of RaidersSnakepit.com that said Gruden led the decision to cut King as a "message" move.

This isn't the first time a Raiders head coach has taken issue with King, though, as Jack Del Rio discussed the personal foul calls the punter received in back-to-back games in December 2016 for taunting Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill and spiking an official's flag into the ground.

"He cannot have another penalty," Del Rio said, per Scott Bair of NBC Sports. "I've allowed him to have his freedom, and I want him to express himself. I think that's when he's at his best. But we can't have routine 15-yard penalties from our punter. We have had them two weeks in a row. I've talked to him. It's unacceptable."

The on-field production has not been an issue for King, who averaged 47.4 yards per punt in 2017.

He has averaged 46.8 yards per attempt throughout his career and never less than the 44.5 he posted in 2015, which was also the same year he tallied a career-best 40 punts inside the 20-yard line.

King is also just 29 years old and figures to have plenty of productive seasons ahead of him. Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com called the decision to release him "perhaps the most shocking move of the Oakland Raiders' busy offseason."

There apparently wasn't a match with the new coach, though, meaning Oakland may turn toward Colby Wadman or draft or sign a punter to fill the position in 2018.