HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT

Gruden denounced the emergence of women as referees, the drafting of a gay player and the tolerance of players protesting during the playing of the national anthem.

His messages were sent to Bruce Allen, the former president of the Washington Football Team, and others, while he was working for ESPN as a color analyst during "Monday Night Football," the sports network's weekly prime-time telecast of N.F.L. games.