As has become tradition in recent years, the 2020 offseason was another one filled with news and fake news around the Raiders, particularly in terms of their quarterback position.
In an interview published on Friday in The Athletic, Derek Carr addressed the offseason rumors around himself and why he wasn’t concerned with the storylines around his job.
Most interestingly, he said that there were particular things said to him by Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock that gave him confidence that he would be back with the Raiders in 2020.
“I knew some of the things that were going to be said and I knew some of the things that were going to be thrown out by the media. I knew a lot of those things,” Carr told The Athletic’s Vic Tafur. “And then I’d wake up in the morning and those things would happen. And, I would just laugh. Obviously, people would be like, “Oh my gosh, did you see this?” And then they’re asking my teammates questions, and it’s like … I just don’t care enough anymore to call my teammates and tell them, “Don’t worry about it, we’re good.” I just didn’t care enough.
“But from what they told me,” Carr continued, “I can tell you that Mr. Mayock and Mr. Gruden both called me and said that they did their due diligence on everything… And they can tell you that in their own words. I am not going to say what they said, because it’s kind of awesome and I don’t want them to have to answer for it.”
Based on his comments, it sounds like Carr 1) knew the Tom Brady rumors were coming and 2) was told not to be concerned about them. But wouldn’t it be nice to know the details of the “kind of awesome” things he was told?
Come on, Gruden or Mayock. We’re locked down and don’t have any sports to watch. Spill the beans for us.
twitter: @raidersbeat
I for one don’t care what they told him. I’m sure it was along the lines of “you’re our quarterback so don’t believe everything you hear in the media”. As someone that’s followed Carr’s career closely I can say that he’s a great quarterback and I’m sure Gruden and Mayock can see that.
Thank You.
I’m not the media but a skilled observer. Carr is a “puss” He has lost more games because he won’t or can’t get out of his own way, does not have a feel for the rush, because he is limited, he dumps off asap because he does not buy time – this year I’ll hope for Mariota, next year I hope It’s Trevor Lawrence
Trever Lawrence. I think you have better odds in getting Tevor Noah.
Carr will be lifting the Raiders 4th Superbowl tróphy and people will still be counting him out.
Its so humorus to me.
Sounds like you buy I to the media. Do you even watch football. Puss!
We Have To Drive The Carr! One More Season To See What He Does With The Weapons He Has This Season. 🏈🏴☠️🖤
Your an IDI0@T
Ab did away with all off season plans.
Derek Carr is like Rebel Wilson except that he is not a fat smelly woman but he is a enormous sissy
Ok, I don’t really know if Rebel is smelly but she is a whale and so I imagine that if she was outside of the water for a day or so she’d stink like rotting blubber
I don’t mean that in a bad way
Wow you’re a pipe dreamer!!
Good luck with what you said!! RN4L-DC4
I would love Trev.but how is it possible think about it
Trade 2021 1st and 2022 2nd to move up with depth players…im opem to mariota starting us raiders are so used to subpar play we will die for it…if carr doesn’t help us make a playoff run dump em flat out…
Clearly by those conclusions the “skilled observer ” part was a boldfaced lie .
Contrary to popular belief, people don’t have to tell you media guys everything. Is bad enough that some of you make up stories when you don’t know what’s going on.
And thats what I call a Bi*ch Slap. Good going bro!!! ❤❤❤
I’m glad that Mayock & Gruden handled Carr this way. Carr has a horrible rap with some. People quickly forget that in his five yrs. He’s had 3 or 4 different coaches/Offen. Coord.’s & as many systems. It’s a wonder that he’s still able to focus! I’m still scratching my head why McKenzie let Offensive Coordinator Kubiak go under Del Rio after that great (12-4) season when Carr got hurt at the end?
That was the worst cluster “F’s’ of all time and what sealed Del Rios demise. Then when he lost control of the team with the kneeling insidents, well then it was over. In hindsight I’m glad otherwise we wouldnt have Gruden/Mayock
I think you’re thinking of Bill Musgrave but I was thinking the same thing at the time. Trying to trust the process and believe in the team/staff that’s coming together. I hope Carr is unleashed a little bit because he gets criticized for being”check down Carr” but I think he’s doing what is being asked of him by the coaches. Hard to defend throwing it away on 4th down and so help me if he fumbles out of the end zone again. Carr is better than average.
One good season?
What about the rest of his seasons?
Different HC, Different OC .
So what he’s a professional and must adapt. This isn’t college football, it’s Pro football.
Let the equal fair competition begin .
Forget the media and press they’re not there 100% of the time To evaluate, observe, compare and for the most part are on the outside looking in and are “lead” to believe and “told” what to “think”and write about .
Even the actual players that played the game whom are experts in calling the games and are the talking heads haven’t a clue, just teleprompter reading on what to say. Now add this to the recipe , the sports writers, oh well they have a very healthy belief in themselves that are unrealistic and comical to read and listen to.
So, like I said let the honest competition begin head to head with what they done is did, its a new day. compete for the job equal snaps for each QB and let the chips fall were they may.
I thought it was Musgrave
I don’t know if Kubiak was the coach they let go, I think it was Bill Musgrave under Del Rio when they had success that year. He had some questionable calls but the offense still performed pretty **** well. I agree that Carr has survived alot of change and coaching turnover. This year, barring a barrage of injuries on offense, Carr should have a great year, especially as his rookie receivers get better and start understanding their assignments more.
That was Bill Musgrave, not Gary Kubiak.
You meant to say Coach Musgrave bruh, that was definitely a head scratcher. We’ll all see this year what Carr is about with all the upgrades on offense and defense, I can’t wait #ThatsMyQuarterback #RaiderNation
DeadOn… I really liked carr out of Fresno St. I liked Bridgewater but he left the board right b4 Raider pick… Car often can help his nxt play wit a 3…4 yd run but throws out of bounds… Gives up on waaaay Too Many plays!
Kubiak was not with the Raiders, it was Bill Musgrave.
I imagine they said ,Come hell or high water were rolling with you as QB. Now just quit being a puss ,get out the pocket and sling it.
Since we’ve actually had Carr our team has been a hell of alot better. Furthermore with them having their own stadium we will go all the way.,instead of always playing on a baseball field 😒 . You say you’re a Raiders fan yeah right , a fan doesn’t turn their back if they lose a game or win !!!! ### #1 Raiders Fan Always
I think Carr is good enough to win with but he needs to be a better leader. You can’t be everybody’s buddy. Your work ethic and toughness alone is not enough to lead the team. You need to hold your offensive players accountable. Demand excellence and hold them to a high standard. You are not there to be their friend. Year three for this staff. Time is up.
Skilled at observing what?
Carr needs to challenge DBs more and throw it deep. They already have a speedster – Gafford, but wait a minute, it might be the Olsen’s and Tackle’s fault. Carr didn’t have time bc of Miller and the RT did give him the time to throw it deep for most of the year, especially the RT. That being said, Carr has to take a hit. He lost 5 games down the stretch that could’ve put the Raider into the playoffs . I know the D gave up points late in these games but if you’re a franchise QB, you need to overcome it. Just my 2cents.
It really doesn’t matter what Gruden and Mayock told Carr because he felt comfortable with all the junk talked about out there. You know that Gruden’s offense is complicated, even though we fans don’t know all of the options in his playbook and all the assignments. I think that they value him more than the Carr haters realize because they know whether he is executing the offense the way Gruden and Greg Olsen draw it up and call it. If you remember how Gruden used to get smoked by quarterback errors, especially in Tampa post SB, you know not many QB’s can deal with it. Picking up Mariota was a great move because, not only does it give us a great backup, but it kept AFC teams like the Patriots and Chargers from picking him up before the Brady/Rivers moves. This offense, once they start grasping the offensive scheme, should be great this year.
I don’t know if Kubiak was the coach they let go, I think it was Bill Musgrave under Del Rio when they had success that year. He had some questionable calls but the offense still performed pretty **** well. I agree that Carr has survived alot of change and coaching turnover. This year, barring a barrage of injuries on offense, Carr should have a great year, especially as his rookie receivers get better and start understanding their assignments more.
Dont get too comfortable Carr. Your stats, performance and win/loss record in our conference sucks. You need to find your 2016 form and stop leading the league in lowest yards per throw. Also, stop acting like your 70% completion means anything when they were checkdown throws. This is your year to proof you deserve to wear that uniform with honor.
It wasn’t Kubiak, our OC was Bill Musgrave when Del Rio was our HC, the last time we made the playoffs and went 12 – 4.
The NFL media is a generation raised in the saturation of information at a click! Any lowly unemployable person can type their opinion of anything, fiction or fabricated, save it and send it to some accessible media outlet. At a whopping $50 per story. What a bunch of useless dipshits that make crap up! Facts should take the only route ok f publication.
I stumbled across a 2014 Raiders game (Carr’s first career win against the Chiefs) and he looked sharp and accurate. Yes, he didn’t handle pressure well and had the tendency to throw the ball away instead or extend plays; however, he did not make a bad decision resulting in a turnover.
One of biggest comments made by Boomer Esaison was “Carr doesn’t have any receivers to throw to”. It was true then and is true up to present. Cooper Crabtree were the only good WRs he had to work with but we know Cooper disappeared from games and Crabtree was on the downside of his career.
Grud and Mayock invested draft capital into some weapons for Carr. With these new “toys” and a healthy vet core returning, Carr is poised to be that franchise QB. If he doesn’t, excel and win, then the brain trust will move on.
I stumbled across a 2014 Raiders game (Carr’s first career win against the Chiefs) and he looked sharp and accurate. Yes, he didn’t handle pressure well and had the tendency to throw the ball away instead or extend plays; however, he did not make a bad decision resulting in a turnover.
One of biggest comments made by Boomer Esaison was “Carr doesn’t have any receivers to throw to”. It was true then and is true up to present. Cooper Crabtree were the only good WRs he had to work with but we know Cooper disappeared from games and Crabtree was on the downside of his career.
Grud and Mayock invested draft capital into some weapons for Carr. With these new “toys” and a healthy vet core returning, Carr is poised to be that franchise QB. If he doesn’t, excel and win, then the brain trust will move on.