The Las Vegas Raiders are still in the thick of things and very much alive in the playoff hunt. However, it’s been a long season for the Silver and Black, which is putting it mildly. Quarterback Derek Carr is not exempt from such an exhausting campaign. At some point, all the negativity and toxicity that Carr has had to deal with would catch up to any human being. At least one beat writer with boots on the ground has noticed a change.
Is there something different about Raiders QB Derek Carr?
It was not that long ago that Carr found himself in national headlines following one of the most emotionally charged press conferences you’ll ever see. This season alone has seen some extreme lows, such as a shutout loss in New Orleans, and extreme highs, such as the three-game winning streak. In between, Carr has had to deal with a lot. Thrown in the complexity of Josh McDaniels’ offense and a makeshift offensive line, how many of us could deal with all of this? Now, No. 4 still needs to be held accountable. He’s made a lot of mistakes this season, throwing for 11 interceptions; blame lies there too.
Look, the two camps with regard to Carr’s tenure are fully entrenched. At this point, you’re unlikely to change either side’s mind. Even so, the Raiders have never been the benchmark for stability. It’s been quite the opposite, with a carousel of head coaches and general managers. Does this excuse Carr? Not necessarily, but it does add context to his tenure.
Can you blame No. 4?
If Carr had been inserted into one of the more stable organizations in the NFL, who’s to say he wouldn’t have hoisted a Lombardi Trophy by now? In Year 9, has Carr had enough? Or perhaps his patience has worn thin after everything he’s been through. Hondo Carpenter recently shared some insight into what he’s seen from Carr himself.
“Derek has been different this year. His teammates have noticed it as well. He has given maximum effort, but he seems to be easily frustrated. One organization member told me: ‘I don’t know what bothers him, I love him, but it seems obvious that he is not his old self. I love him; I want him here, and I am not rooting for a change. I can only imagine the constant barrage of negativity gets f****ing old.'”
Carr has been a lightning rod for debate for years now. Some hate him, and some absolutely love the guy. As always, the truth is in the middle. He’s not “elite,” but he’s not a scared quarterback with happy feet either. It must also weigh on Carr’s psyche whether the Raiders will move on from him after this season. Keep in mind that his contract is structured in such a way that general manager Dave Ziegler can pull the plug prior to a February deadline. All conjecture aside, this current brain trust has its vision, and with the public backing of owner Mark Davis in mind, they likely have free rein to do as they please. Whether Carr fits into that vision is yet to be seen.
*Top Photo: Budda Mendes/Getty Images