Derek Carr was “mad” and “very upset” when the Las Vegas Raiders brought an official end to his run with the team last season, and believes he never got a fair shake with the silver-and-black due to the instability of the franchise.
A couple of weeks before the 2022 season came to a close, the Las Vegas Raiders made a very bold decision. After nearly nine seasons and multiple trips to the Pro Bowl, the organization brought an unceremonious end to its relationship with quarterback Derek Carr. They benched the then-31-year-old and eventually cut him before the start of NFL free agency.
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It was a surprising move after just one season under new head coach Josh McDaniels. Especially after the organization made a massive trade to acquire Carr’s former college teammate and friend Davante Adams. Yet, the franchise decided it was time to hand the keys of the offense over to a different QB in 2023.
Eventually, Derek Carr tested his value on the open market and signed a five-year, $125 million deal with the New Orleans Saints. The four-time Pro Bowler hasn’t said a ton about his departure from Las Vegas, however, over the weekend he unburdened himself following a meeting with his DC4Kids supporters.
Derek Carr blasts Las Vegas Raiders instability over last decade
When asked about his Week 17 benching, Derek Carr held little back when he said it legitimately made him “mad” and “very upset.” He regretted the decision not to play in front of Las Vegas Raiders fans for the final two games of the season and even claimed he would have played for free.
- Derek Carr stats (2022): 3,522 yards, 24 TD, 14 INT, 86.3 rating
“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.”
– Derek Carr
While many NFL analysts believe Derek Carr’s inconsistent performances during his Raiders run likely led to his release, the QB seems to feel he didn’t get a fair shake during his tenure due to the constant turnover of the coaching staff over the last nine years.
“If you win more games and you keep being productive, you stay there forever, But we didn’t win enough games and that’s the kind of stuff that happens with all the turnover of coaches; with all the different things. Eventually, the last guy in the room is usually going to be out at some point. And that’s really what happened.
“I’ve survived about 20 coaches and that’s how it goes and it is what it is. But I’m happy to be somewhere where we’re in a stable organization that’s been proven for years and I hope that the Raiders find something good there too, where they can keep that stability for the next guys.”
-Derek Carr
Some strong words from the former Las Vegas Raiders star and he may not be completely off base. The team had six different head coaches and numerous offensive coordinators during Carr’s time with the franchise.