Is there a talking point in NFL media circles that has accumulated more mileage over the last three years than the relationship of Derek Carr and Jon Gruden?
Some thought Gruden wouldn’t like Carr. Some thought Carr was too soft for a coach like Gruden. Some predicted that Carr wouldn’t make it to Las Vegas. And others, like ProFootballTalk‘s Mike Florio, won’t rest a full night until Carr isn’t the quarterback of the Raiders.
Nevertheless, most media personalities that have reported on Gruden and Carr can’t claim to be immediate family of anyone involved, but that isn’t the case for Jay Gruden. Jon Gruden’s younger brother would presumably have a good idea of what Jon thinks of Carr and he elaborated on that during an ESPN appearance on Tuesday.
“Jon has never spoken a poor word about Derek Carr,” Gruden said on the Keyshawn, JWill, and Zubin Show. “I don’t know where this narrative came from that Jon doesn’t like Derek or wants to get rid of Derek. I know he loves Derek, that’s for sure.”
There have been recent reports that Carr and the Raiders are working on a contract extension and when that deal is done it should effectively end the speculation that Gruden doesn’t like his quarterback. Until then, the more relevant talking point should probably be more about what that deal might look like and when it will be finalized.
twitter: @raidersbeat
Is Carr the best QB in the NFL? No. But he is good, objectively inside the top 10 at his position, and has been improving every year. He has demonstrated mastery over Gruden’s complicated offense and is still in his prime. Troy Aikman in talking about his own career stated that as he matured in the game everything just sort of clicked – he could see blitzes, coverage schemes, and understand what was going to happen before it ever happened. Unfortunately for him, concussions forced his retirement. But I believe that is where Carr is now – everything has just sort of clicked for him in this offense and in reading defenses, especially in the last half of the season. Unfortunately, he can’t play defense or stop injuries from happening, but it would be ludicrous at this stage to change horses. Let’s see where Carr plateaus first and how far he can take the team.
Could not agree more!
I have watched this team go from elite in the late 90’s early 2000’s, to being the laughing stock.
Since Carr started playing for the Raiders he has improved every year!
Look at the last three years and the production he had.
Why the results? Consistency in his leadership/coaching. Keep Gruden and Carr together and soon we may get that next championship!
#just win baby
Well said and I agree on all points. For those who really pay attention and know the game, have to appreciate Carr’s mastery of the offense. He is finally “getting it”. In a system as complicated as many ex players have said it is, it is impressive to see how Carr moves defenses and has them on heels figuring out what all changes are. Many plays this season that ended in a bust, Carr had players in right positions and we’ve seen them drop balls or a penalty called. He should have had more TDs and LESS INTs. Carr is playing similar to Peyton in how he sets up and audibles and I believe will be even better next season.
I looked it up last night. With 170 TD passes, Carr is tied for 71st ALL TIME. With 25-30 next season he would move up into the 50s in his 8th season. Among active QBs only Brady, Roethlisberger and Rodgers are way ahead of him assuming Brees retires. Everyone active ahead of him has played at least 2 seasons longer. Will he break all the records? No. I seriously doubt if anyone will come close to Brady’s records, even Mahomes, but Carr could make it into the top 20-25 ever before he’s done and he’s never had a true #1 WR..
Russell Wilson is almost 100 TD passes ahead of Carr in 3 more seasons IIRC.. If anyone behind Brady has a shot at the top in TD passes, it would be Wilson. In spite of his recent remarks, I don’t see him leaving the Seahawks anytime soon, so Carr haters, don’t get your hopes up..
I’m getting great pleasure knowing that Mike Florio will never get a good night’s rest as long as Carr is the QB for the Raiders! With an extension forthcoming that will probably mean at least 4-5 more years of no rest for that hack Florio! Florio will long be forgotten while Carr will eventually lead the Raiders to a Super Bowl championship or two when all is said and done. Screw you Florio!
Gruden is going to keep him. The team will win 9 games and Gruden will call that incremental improvement. Mark Davis will express his continued faith in Gruden. Raider Nation will clamor for more and the mediocrity will continue. So, just relax all you Derek Carr and Jon Gruden lovers. The status quo will remain and Raider fans will get another year to bitch and moan about what could have been. Absolutely NO ONE is predicting anything other than another middle of the pack run for the Raiders and Jon Gruden, this year. So, all is well in Whoville.
Defense has been the problem and we got coaches with proven success wherever they have been,so maybe we don’t give up so many points and win more games because of it, I don’t know if that’s what will happen but when you can score more points then the other team and your defense can stop the opposing team then maybe we’ll win games maybe.
The rumors and internet buzz about Carr is started by keyboard experts and a few disgruntled fans. Twitter has some real whiners that never let up. Some of the crybabies post that they don’t understand why Carr stans are so attached to him. So in response, why are some people so down on Carr? Ignore everything that happens on defense, injuries, players not working out, coaching snafus etc. Just froth at the mouth about Carr. smh
That was a great comment biglar. I agree with everything you said about carr and would like to add that were lucky to have a qb that truly loves the RAIDERS. He was a fan of the team his whole life. He’s also from what I hear a huge competitor. His hero growing up was the black mamba who’s probably one of the most competitive people in history of sports. We should be happy we have a guy who wants to win a super bowl as a raider .most professional athletes care more about money and personal achievements. I’m sure Derek cares about that stuff too but not as much as he wants to lead the RAIDERS organization…..go CARR GO RAIDERS
I have been a raider fan since I was 6 years old 1966.
I’ve seen the best the raiders have headed quarterback and the worst.
I’ve been there to watch the ups and downs over the years going back to the snake all the way up to hostetler and everything you had a quarterback since then.
I have personally seen Derek Carr with less than 2 minutes in a game come from behind and lead our team to victory under pressure at least eight times that doesn’t happen by luck that happens by skilled and being cool under pressure thank you very much I’ll take their car any day of the week…
Levi i totally agree with you. I would mention Rich Gannon when he was IMHO targeted by Tony Siragusa of the Ravens when Tony gave rich what I call the siragusa splat, and put him out of the game. So give DC4 a better supporting cast then he’s ever had then sit back and enjoy the show.
Carr is top ten quarterback, but his offensive line is very suspect, especially Trent Brown. I think, we should keep marcus mariota because I think Carr maybe injured because of the holes in Offensive Line, unless we get extremely good draft capital for Marcus Mariota in 2021 draft where we can draft a quality right tackle.
Too bad that great statistics doesn’t translate into playoff and Super Bowl wins. For those of you that aren’t as old as me, long ago, when tv actually had cigarette commercials, there was one that asked the question, “What do you want, good grammar or good taste? With respect to this football franchise, what do you want, statistical superiority with mediocrity or Super Bowl and playoff wins?
I have been a raider fan since I was 6 years old 1966.
I’ve seen the best the raiders have had at quarterback and the worst.
I’ve been there to watch the ups and downs over the years going back to the snake all the way up to hostetler and everything we’ve had at since then.
I have personally seen Derek Carr with less than 2 minutes in a game come from behind and lead our team to victory under pressure at least eight times that doesn’t happen by luck that happens by being skilled and being cool under pressure thank you very much I’ll take their car any day of the week…
Levi i totally agree with you. I would mention Rich Gannon when he was IMHO targeted by Tony Siragusa of the Ravens when Tony gave rich what I call the siragusa splat, and put him out of the game. So give DC4 a better supporting cast then he’s ever had then sit back and enjoy the show.