What started out as an innocuous opening interview question about whose golf game was better between brothers David and Derek Carr, gave way to the best Raiders mentality moving forward in decades. Promise little and deliver “unexpectedly.”
Derek Carr, the new human torch
On NFL Network’s Total Access, MJ Acosta-Ruiz interviewed colleague David Carr and Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr prior to taking the golf course in the American Sentry Championship, in Lake Tahoe, CA. When asked who was the better golfer, Derek deferred to his older brother, who was having none of it.
“He’s just saying that so when he beats me by 20 points he can look at me and say I don’t know what happened, I just got hot,” said David Carr.
We have seen that type of unassuming, silent killer mentality before. Usually, it comes from champions. Those who praise their opponents and speak of their positives publicly. Meanwhile, knowing full well the malice and evil intentions (within the rules, naturally) they have for the opposition, I’m here for all of it, and so should you.
The mighty San D…Los Angeles Super Chargers
“You know me, I’m already talking trash to Khalil. I haven’t stopped since he left,” said Derek. “I’ve been talking trash to him. Even in the Chicago game when we played them, I was talking trash to him. Maybe I should be nicer and maybe he’ll rush a little slower. I just love it. Khalil along with Joey (Bosa) and their defense, they got a whole bunch of guys.”
A whole bunch of guys. That’s what Derek Carr thinks of the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense. They got Mack, Bosa, and a bunch of guys. And why wouldn’t he? The entire NFL landscape of pundits, talk show hosts, radio hosts, beat writers, and fans are praising the Chargers this preseason. Citing the many additions they have made to the roster freely offering prognostications based on emotions and feelings.
Under-selling and over-delivering
Keep in mind that it was the Raiders who made the playoffs in 2021, not the Chargers. It was Carr, who, after Bosa called him out for folding up like a lawn chair in the face of pressure, effectively ended the Chargers’ season with a timeout and a smirk. For all the moves the Chargers made in bolstering their defense, understand one thing: they weren’t good enough to stop the Raiders when it mattered most last season.
The Raiders had a busy offseason too. In fact, one could argue that every move they made was on par with, if not better than, the Chargers’ moves. The Raiders no longer have to say “no excuses.” Now they can take the next step and focus on winning the AFC West and have Carr shut all the critics and naysayers up.
A little-known fact is that the Chargers have NEVER beaten a Patriots team with a Josh McDaniels-led offense.
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*Top Photo: Sports Illustrated