NFL Players Association urges release of emails in Washington Football Team probe after Jon Gruden resigns

After learning that Jon Gruden’s emails with associates extended beyond a racist comment about NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, and also shed light on sexual misconduct within the Washington Football Team, the NFLPA plans to petition the NFL to release the findings of the investigation into the organization.

Union and NFL officials have had discussions about the emails, Smith said. 

“We have had communications with the league, and the NFLPA plans to request that the NFL release the rest of the emails,” Smith said in a phone interview.

A league spokesman told USA TODAY Sports that NFL officials had no current plans to release the emails because the confidentiality was an element of the investigation into the Washington Football Team and workplace review.

It remains unclear if an official request by the NFLPA would change the mind of league officials, or if the NFL will stand pat.

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In July, the NFL announced the completion of the independent investigation into Washington owner Daniel Snyder and the culture within the organization. The investigation began after more than 40 former female employees complained of long-running sexual harassment and misconduct and a toxic work culture within the organization.

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Snyder initially ordered an independent investigation into the allegations. But the NFL eventually assumed direction of the probe, and attorney Beth Wilkinson reported her findings to the NFL.

Upon announcing the completion of the investigation, the NFL also announced Snyder's the organization would have to pay a $10 million fine. Snyder also voluntarily turned day-to-day operations of the team over to his wife, Tanya. However, the league declined to share the specifics of the findings and claimed that in an attempt to ensure privacy, there was no written report. The decision was criticized by Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, the attorneys representing the women who lodged the complaints.

Banks and Katz on Tuesday reiterated their request to the league to divulge all findings of the investigation

The league does have 650,000 emails that were collected as part of the report, according to a Wall Street Journal report. A small portion of those emails revealed Gruden’s misogynistic, homophobic and sexist remarks during communications with former Washington team president Bruce Allen, among others. The leak of Gruden's emails also revealed that Allen had sent Gruden pictures of cheerleaders in various stages of undress. 

Gruden resigned Monday night after the release of additional remarks he had made in emails, which were sent from 2011-18.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Mike Jones on Twitter @ByMikeJones.