Saying goodbye is never easy. The 2023 Raiders probably know this better than anyone; just ask Hunter Renfrow. In one fell swoop, men he’s bled with, such as Derek Carr, Darren Waller, and Foster Moreau, were let go. That was either via trade or simply cutting bait. With training camp in full swing, Renfrow opened up about his new-look team.
Hunter Renfrow opens up about former Raiders…
By now, Raiders fans are aware of all of the deconstruction that their team has undergone. General manager Dave Ziegler didn’t want waste any time making sure that last year’s failure wouldn’t repeat itself. Several key players from an underwhelming campaign were shown the door, or rather, were not welcomed back. Either way you look at it, the Raiders made several changes. You know the names already–Carr, Waller, and Moreau. Obviously, these were the major players on offense that’ll be playing elsewhere in 2023.
When such drastic changes are made, the impact on the respective locker rooms shouldn’t be overlooked. At the same time, players like Renfrow know that the NFL is a business. Unfortunately, like in any business, sometimes friendships take a backseat. That doesn’t mean they cease to be friends; rather, you keep them with you and continue the grind. It’s an ever-present reality, and Renfrow knows this, echoing a similar sentiment this past weekend.
“Personally, those are some of my best friends, so you hate to see them go. I know Foster [Moreau] got a chance to go home with his cancer, and thankfully, he’s in remission with that. And to see Derek [Carr] go as well, it was tough. But you also understand why you get paid. It’s your job, right? I’m sure you all have co-workers who either get fired or get promotions and leave. So, you just wish them the best and know that you have a job to do.”
As Freddie Mercury once famously sang, “The show must go on.”
While tons of Raiders fans became attached to some of the aforementioned names, the business continues. Just like Renfrow said, connections don’t necessarily need to be severed. However, the Raiders don’t have time to hold hands right now.
“Yeah, I think that’s just business. You just don’t talk to them [Carr, Waller, and Moreau] as much from a day-to-day perspective, but I know that those will be lifelong friends.”
You could call it a rebuild or whatever you want, but Ziegler, Josh McDaniels, Mark Davis, etc. are concerned with one thing: winning. Whether it was Carr, Waller, or Moreau, this current regime simply didn’t see them as long-term fits for their vision. Even if Renfrow or anyone else disagrees with it, it’s really nonconsequential. It’s all business when it comes to those calls; at least fans can hope that’s what it was.
Besides, once a Raider, always a Raider. Right?
*Top Photo: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
