Gruden’s No-Show Is Most Telling

Jon Gruden chose an interesting way to handle his first scheduled appearance at a Super Bowl week that will challenge his loyalties and test his toughness.

He didn’t show.

The man who scowls at selfish players sent his Tampa Bay Buccaneers here alone.

The man who demands accountability allowed his general manager to face the media for him.

The man the opposing Oakland Raiders have accused of trying to “rule the world” made his own rules.

Gruden blew off Monday’s annual arrival press conference, choosing to stay in Tampa, Fla., to work on the game plan.

When Raider Coach Bill Callahan heard about it, not wishing to give Gruden an advantage, he chose to stay in his San Diego hotel room working on his own darn game plan, thank you.

So for perhaps the first time in the Super Bowl’s 38-year history, neither head coach spoke at the week’s traditional opening event.

Six days before the game begins, the games began.

“There is nothing that Jon Gruden does that surprises me,” said Raider tackle Lincoln Kennedy, rolling his eyes about his former coach. “Nothing.”

Added cornerback Rod Woodson: “Gruden doesn’t coach us, he doesn’t play for us. He can stay in Tampa for all I care.”

While Monday’s event is not as renowned as the Tuesday media day, it is a head coach’s first chance to set the tone for the week.

It is considered so important, coaches have altered flights and changed schedules for it.

It is given such respect, even ornery Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots showed up last year, flying from Pittsburgh to Boston to New Orleans in less than 24 hours and with no sleep.

To finish that game plan, Belichick’s assistant coaches stayed home, which is the usual procedure when there is only one week between conference championship games and the Super Bowl.

Gruden, however, was having none of it.

According to NFL officials, Gruden said that Sunday’s flight from Philadelphia, coupled with Monday’s flight to San Diego, would cost him a full work day.

According to Rich McKay, Buccaneer general manager, his head coach does much of the grunt work during those sessions, so he couldn’t just leave it to his assistants.

The league, apparently forgetting that there are now video machines on airplanes, foolishly agreed with them.

This not only opened the door for Callahan to slip out, but left the week twisting in a plot that thickens with each innuendo.

“I guess six hours in the air, maybe that would have helped Gruden with a better game plan,” said Raider Charlie Garner, smiling.

The several Buccaneers who showed up for the first player news conferences, forced to answer questions about a man who couldn’t answer them himself, expect the worst.

“I’m sure there’s going to be personal attacks, but Jon said let him handle them,” said safety John Lynch.

When he finally shows up, of course.

McKay acknowledged that all the talk of a showdown between Gruden and his former Raider employers has the coach a little skittish.

“He’s not real comfortable with that,” McKay said. “In the offices, we’ve talked about treating it like elevator music. You can hear what’s said, but don’t listen to too much of it. This is a team accomplishment, and he doesn’t want to detract from it.”

But by staying away Monday, Gruden became an even bigger distraction. By refusing to discuss the issues that led to his leaving the Raiders last year for a handful of draft picks and an $8-million bounty, he only increases their voltage.

“He don’t care about none of that,” protested Brad Johnson, Tampa Bay quarterback. “All he wants to do is win.”

But the controversy is not to disappear while Gruden locks himself in a Tampa closet.

This is the first man in history to essentially have coached two teams into the same Super Bowl.

He’s the hottest whistle carrier on the planet and, with his sideline sneers, one of the most recognizable figures in sports.

To show up and answer the questions about former players and new pressures and even Al Davis would deflate the issue.

But maybe that’s not what Gruden wants.

Maybe he wants to keep the turmoil alive, figuring it will distract the Raiders more than the Buccaneers.

Maybe for Jon Gruden, staying home and working on the game plan is the game plan.

Or maybe the game’s toughest boss really is bothered by a little elevator music.

Not a good signal to a Buccaneer team that, come Sunday, will be surrounded by heavy metal.

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Bill Plaschke can be reached at bill.plaschke@latimes.com.