The videos, after years of collecting cyberdust, are back in circulation, and only time will tell if future documentation of Gru Part II will have the same look.

A 30-something Jon Gruden giving a forceful lecture to fringe receiver David Dunn about how it's time that his career either takes off or peters out. Gruden scowling at training camp and barking, "We're not posing for football cards, gentlemen, we're not posing for football cards!"

The man was an NFL Films dream. As the late Steve Sabol once told me, "I liken him to a lion tamer. He cracks his whip and the cats are on the stools."

Which brings us to Gruden at age 54, off the sidelines for the last nine years, 16 years removed from prowling the practice fields of Napa and Alameda and scheduled to be introduced Tuesday as the once and future coach of the Raiders.

The most interesting part of this comeback will be seeing if this is the same Gruden in terms of style and approach. He's had nine years to think about how he once did things and ways to do them better or differently.

The young Gruden was in your face, 24/7, with young players in particular. He would yell, scream and swear. But he'd also encourage, cajole, offer up his musical tastes and generally work on a player's psyche.

He was not, in any way, laid back.

It drove Gruden crazy when players told him they were 'chillin.' Gruden doesn't chill. Doesn't have any idea what it means.

One day moody receiver Jerry Porter got his food tray at training camp and went off to sit at a table by himself in silence. Gruden sidled up next him, a smooth sarcasm in his voice, and said, "That's OK, Jerry. I'll be your friend today."

The most closely watched interaction will be between Gruden and quarterback Derek Carr, the two most important men in the organization.

Gruden's best work with quarterbacks has been with thick-skinned veterans who can handle his coaching – Rich Gannon, a Super Bowl championship with Brad Johnson, and Jeff Garcia at the end of Gruden's tenure in Tampa Bay.

Carr has already been through three offensive coordinators – Greg Olson, Bill Musgrave and Todd Downing. Olson may be coming back as a familiar voice to coordinate the offense, but it will be Gruden's show unless he's decided to delegate the play-calling.

Is Gruden a slightly mellower version of himself at 54? Or does Carr sink or swim with the full-on glowering Gruden?

(Carr's getting a little bit of a bum rap of late, as if he's incapable of accepting hard coaching because he's a devout Christian who doesn't swear. I don't recall Roger Staubach or Steve Young being taken to task for being religious and unfailingly polite).

Gruden said often one of his strengths was that he was a "shallow" guy. He had few interests outside of football other than his family.

"I don't like to get too deep or philosophical," was a common answer to an expansive question.

But he has had plenty of time to think and re-examine the good and the bad in Oakland and Tampa Bay, and make adjustments accordingly.

We won't know until the Raiders take the field whether the team revolves around Gruden's every move. Even with as imposing physically as Jack Del Rio was, there were times you had to look around to find him.

Gruden was constantly challenging players, challenging the defense to stop his offense. There was no letup. Ever. You always knew where he was.

As for the fan base, having Gruden back will be sublime, at least initially. With the East Bay fans in particular, Gruden was a magnet.

During his first year on Monday Night Football in 2009, Gruden, in town to work a 49ers game, threw a private party in mid-December at Ricky's Sports Lounge in San Leandro.

Every Raiders legend you could think of was there, and a handful of former players. Shane Lechler and Sebastian Janikowski showed up but left early. Had a game the next day.

Broadcast partners Mike Tirico and Ron Jaworski attended, and even a few Bay Area media-types were invited.

Gruden, wearing a Bo Jackson throwback, worked the room, but also went into the general area of the restaurant. Word got out, as if he were a rock star, and Gruden ended up in the parking lot, posing for pictures next to the Monday Night Football bus with fans in Raiders gear.

The charisma is still there. As for the coaching part of it, we'll have to wait and see how it evolves.

Gruden himself is curious.

In a number of brief phone conversations over the past few days, before the Raiders made their official announcement Saturday night, Gruden never flat-out said he was taking the job, nor did he say he wasn't – although it was clear what was about to happen.

At one point, Gruden laughed.

"What am I getting myself into?" he said.

We're about to find out.