Jon Gruden: Raiders return to L.A. is 'inevitable'

Jan 23, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; ESPN broadcaster and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders former coach Jon Gruden at Team Irvin practice at Scottsdale Community College in advance of the 2015 Pro Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Jon Gruden was asked to rate the likelihood he'd be calling a Los Angeles-based Monday Night Football game in the next year.

The broadcaster's answer was a simple "10-out-of-10" -- and he pegged his old team to fill one of the slots.

"I have a feeling, just being with the Raiders for a few years, that something's going on down there," Gruden said on a conference call to preview the upcoming season. "I have a couple of my sources down there that say it's inevitable."

Gruden would know better than most. He saw firsthand how hard late owner Al Davis labored to get a new stadium built in Oakland during his four years as head coach.

He also knows the team will get what it wants by any means necessary. After all, Gruden was shipped out for draft pick compensation when Davis wanted a new coach.

With a stadium, that could mean teaming with the rival Chargers or leveraging a city like San Antonio. Gruden just thinks it'll happen soon.

"Hopefully it works out, and they get some real enthusiasm for football in Southern California," he said. "It's a great place for football down there."

(h/t USA TODAY Sports)