Jon Gruden laughs off his Navy anthem salute

Gruden's Monday spot on Wake Up Barstool is usually football talk. This week the crew opened with a question he clearly didn't want.

Viva La Stool

@VivaLaStool

What a question!

Here's the backstory. Gruden spent a day at the U.S. Naval Academy, his first time there, and posted the trip to his YouTube channel. During the anthem at the Navy game he got caught on camera switching his hand between a military salute and over his heart before he settled on the heart. The internet called it a pretzel. For the record, he finished in the right spot. Under the flag code, civilians who aren't veterans stand with a hand over the heart.

Viva La Stool

@VivaLaStool

“I wasn’t quite sure what to do to be honest with you… Thanks for pointing that out jerk” -Gruden

Jake Malasek@jakemalasek

Gruden was in an absolute pretzel on what to do during the anthem at Navy. t.co/QoKauE5DcN

That was the right way to handle it. He didn't get defensive and he didn't spin it. He said he didn't know what to do and called whoever raised it a jerk. It's a harmless clip, and the guy who has spent years as football's loudest film-room lifer got caught not knowing the play call for once. He laughed at himself, and so should you.

Then it was back to football, and to the Giants' biggest story. Cam Skattebo lost a fumble in overtime of the Week 5 tie with the Commanders. The next week he played a handful of snaps against the Saints and didn't touch the ball once, and New York lost 34-27. John Harbaugh says it wasn't a benching. Skattebo said otherwise: "I got punished for what I did and I understand it."

Barstool Sports

@barstoolsports

“I know a lot of people think that Skattebo is the greatest back in New York Giant history but four fumbles in the first quarter of the season, you have to address that. I think you have to send a message to your team and I’m sure Skattebo will be back, but let’s hope he takes better care of the ball” -Jon Gruden

Gruden sided with the coach, which makes sense coming from a coach. He also tossed in a jab at the hype, the 'greatest back in New York Giant history' line, before landing on the real point. You can't put the ball on the ground that much, and Skattebo will be back if he fixes it. Two weeks ago on the same show, Gruden was already hedging on the Giants' hot start.

Wake Up Barstool

@wakeupbarstool

“The Giants are 3 and 1, but Arizona could have beat them.” – Jon Gruden

0:45

He was right to wonder. That 3-1 team is now 3-2-1, and the overtime tie was the game Skattebo's fumble helped turn. Whether he gets his carries back next week is the real Giants question. Gruden's anthem moment is settled, though: hand on heart, a little late.