Derek Carr says he wants his friends on the Raiders ‘to succeed’
Jun 27, 2023, 12:00 PM
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 14: Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders gives fans a thumbs-up as he runs off the field at halftime of a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium on August 14, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated Vikings the 26-20. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Derek Carr wanted to play the final two games of the 2022 season as a Raider.
But the team had a different approach. Benching their long-time starter to save some money.
If he had gotten injured, then his contract for the 2023 season would have become guaranteed.
Carr told Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee that he would have told the organization he didn’t even want the money, just the opportunity to finish off his career in front of the fans.
“I was, for lack of a better term, I was very upset; I was mad. You spend nine years in a place, you have all the records and you can play at a high level and for something to get in the way, whether it was whatever reason, money related or whatever, injury related, I would have said I don’t even want the money, just to play two more times in front of our fans. I didn’t get that opportunity. So it definitely lit a fire inside me to keep going.”
Carr finished the 2022 season with his lowest completion percentage since his rookie year, his third-fewest yards thrown and tied his career high for interceptions (14) on his way to a 6-10 record.
It was a disappointing end to his time with the Silver & Black.
Could he have mended fences with Las Vegas if the organization had changed its mind and wanted him to return? Carr told the Fresno Bee that once the organization made his wife cry, his tenure was over.
“Once they made my wife cry, that was pretty much over. Once they made her cry, that was out. But the love for my teammates is what probably would have made me do it.”
Carr ➡️ Olave 🙌#Saints pic.twitter.com/T6OiIQ7xBb
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) June 9, 2023
The Raiders drafted Derek Carr in 2014. He ended up starting 142 games for the Silver and Black over his nine years as the team’s starter, throwing for a franchise-leading 35,222 passing yards. He finished his career with the Raiders with 62-78 record, took the team to the playoffs twice and made four Pro Bowl appearances.
Now he’s looking to set records and lead the New Orleans Saints to the postseason again. Carr signed a four-year, $150 million contract with the Saints this past offseason, rejoining former Raiders coach Dennis Allen.
But just because he’s in another city, that doesn’t mean he wants his former team to fail.
“I have so many friends over there. I want them to succeed. I want Jimmy to be healthy. I want him to play great, because that helps Davante (Adams). It helps Maxx (Crosby), Josh Jacobs. It helps all my friends, Kolton (Miller), Andre (James). I’m going to stop naming names because someone will get upset, but all my friends over there, I just want them to have success. That’s all I was ever trying to do is give my best so they could win.
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