New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr noted that once the instance in which he knew his time with the Las Vegas Raiders was over.
For the first time in his NFL career, quarterback Derek Carr will be playing for a team not named the Las Vegas Raiders. After getting benched for the final two games of the season, Carr spent time away from the team, with a contract decision looming in February. After no trade partner could be found, the Raiders released Carr, who signed a four-year, $150 million contract with the New Orleans Saints.
Carr spoke with Anthony Galaviz of the Fresno Bee recently and detailed his exit from the Raiders. When asked if he would have stayed with the Raiders had they changed their minds, he said no. The reason? Carr brought up that the whole situation made his wife, Heather, cry.
"Once they made my wife cry, that was pretty much over," said Carr. "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."
Derek Carr says wife crying over benching ended any chances of returning to Raiders
Carr also brought up that the benching didn't sit well with him, and that he was "upset" and "mad" about the team's decision.
"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," said Carr. "So it definitely lit a fire inside me to keep going."
Even though the Raiders were in playoff contention in the AFC, the Raiders announced that they were going to bench Carr for the final two games of the season and would start former New England Patriots quarterback Jarrett Stidham in his place. At the time, Carr had thrown for 3,522 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions while completing 60.8 percent of his passes.
The Raiders had a decision to make, as Carr would have his $31.9 million salary for the 2023 season fully guaranteed and $7.4 million of his 2024 salary guaranteed if he were on the roster by Feb. 15. So, after Carr vetoed a trade with the Saints, the Raiders released him. Shortly thereafter, Carr signed on with the Saints.
As for the Raiders, they are going forward with Jimmy Garoppolo as their planned starting quarterback in 2023. Garoppolo signed for $72.8 million over three years. Garoppolo underwent foot surgery after signing his contract. But, there is a clause in the contract in which all guarantees will be voided if Garoppolo does not pass his physical before the season, per Spotrac.
Carr will now move forward with the Saints for his first season out of the Raiders organization. The Saints will open up the 2023 season against the Tennessee Titans.
