Derek Carr Criticizes Las Vegas Raiders Over Breakup: “Once They Made My Wife Cry, It Was Over”Derek Carr, the former quarterback of the Las Vegas Raiders, has spoken out about his departure from the team, revealing the emotional toll it took on him and his family. The decision to bench Carr in the final two games of the 2022 regular season, despite playoff hopes, marked the end of his nine-year tenure with the franchise. A contributing factor to the move was Carr’s contract, which included injury guarantees.
During the 2022 season, Carr’s performance suffered, with a 6-9 record as a starter and a 60.8% completion rate, the second-worst of his career. He also posted a 86.3 passer rating and threw 14 interceptions, tying his career high. However, after finding a new home with the New Orleans Saints, Carr admitted that he was still deeply hurt by the way his time with the Raiders came to an end.
In a candid interview with The Fresno Bee, Carr expressed his frustration, saying, “I was, for lack of a better term, I was very upset; I was mad. You spend nine years in a place, you have all the records and you can play at a high level, and for something to get in the way, whether it was whatever reason, money-related or whatever, injury-related, I would have said I don’t even want the money, just to play two more times in front of our fans. I didn’t get that opportunity. So, it definitely lit a fire inside me to keep going.”
When asked if he would have considered staying with the Raiders had they changed their minds, Carr revealed that the emotional strain on his family made it nearly impossible to reconcile. He mentioned, “Once they made my wife cry, that was pretty much over. Once they made her cry, that was out. But the love for my teammates is what probably would have made me do it. But the way it worked out and the timing of things, I was just… it was time for me to move on. But who knows? You never know what will happen.”
Throughout his illustrious nine seasons with the Raiders, Carr etched his name into the franchise’s history, becoming the all-time passing leader with an impressive 35,222 yards, and the all-time passing touchdowns leader with 217. He also ranked second in wins with 63. Despite his individual success, overall team achievements proved elusive. Carr faced the challenge of working under six different head coaches and five different play callers. Additionally, the Raiders’ lackluster scoring defense during his tenure further hindered their performance.
In the offseason, Carr found a fresh start with the New Orleans Saints, inking a lucrative four-year, $150 million contract. Now, the quarterback looks forward to a new chapter in his career, hoping to find the success that eluded him during his time in Las Vegas.
As Carr moves forward with the Saints, his departure from the Raiders remains a bittersweet memory. The emotional impact on both him and his family serves as a reminder of the sacrifices and challenges that professional athletes face, beyond the statistics and the game itself. Only time will tell what lies ahead for Derek Carr in New Orleans, but his passion for the sport and dedication to his teammates continue to fuel his journey.
