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This might not be the way to go . . .
For a second there it looked like QB Derek Carr of the Las Vegas Raiders was going to be traded to the New Orleans Saints.
Carr was given permission by the Raiders to fly to New Orleans last week and meet with the Saints.
But then it came out that Carr will not accept a trade and would rather be released so he can pick his next team and negotiate the best contract he can get. And tonight he was released.
Clearly, the Saints wanted him, but not on his current deal, which is profligate.
Former NFL GM Mike Lombardi, who has great sources around the league, and is a straight shooter, prepares us for what is about to happen with Carr and how his story will be presented in the media.
“Carr has a very good PR machine out there where he will get his story to people out there to make it look like he was a lot of leverage,” Lombardi said. “Pellisaro, Rapoport – all those guys – there all attuned to it. [The agent] is telling them what to say and the gullibility of the media, they just write what he says. It’s all give and take – everyone is rubbing each other’s backs. That’s the system.”
So in other words, be careful believing everything you read about the Carr situation.
The agent clearly has a lot of friends in the media.
“Expect #Raiders QB Derek Carr to receive significant interest when his release is official at 4 pm today,” tweeted Rapoport.
The idea that Carr has leverage is kind of ridiculous, considering how he played last year and the fact that he has a 63-79 record as a starter.
But the NFL QB landscape is so barren right now, and this draft doesn’t look great, no matter what the mock drafters tell you, Carr’s value could get embellished.
Josh McDaniel, a QB guru, wants nothing to do with him. What does that tell you?
The Raiders went out and traded for Carr’s best friend, superstar receiver Davante Adams, and Carr went 6-9 as a starter with Adams, before Carr got benched.
He’s not a great QB.
If you are looking for mediocrity, go get him.
Why would the Jets want to go there?
Look, if you could get him for $20 million, maybe, but to pay this guy huge money, why would you do that?
Desperation?
To get to the first round of the playoffs, maybe?
Teams interested in Carr prove what Bill Walsh always said, “Very few people can coach the quarterback, and even fewer can evaluate them.”
I’m not saying Carr should be out of the league, but the idea of paying a guy like that big money is absurd.
Last year, Andy Dalton, made $3 million and went 6-8 as a starter in New Orleans. Carr signed a 3 year $121.5 million contract extension, went 6-9 and got benched. Honestly, what is the difference between Dalton (who went to the playoffs four times with the Bengals) and Carr? They are both middling QBs.
Should a team add Carr? Yes. Should a team pay Carr big money? No. Will a team pay Carr big money? Yes. Should that team be the Jets? No.
Woody Johnson is looking for a veteran QB, but he should probably pass on this one, but he might be interested. Not sure what his view of Carr is.
And as Lombardi said, read through the propaganda you are about to read about Carr and realize that it’s reporters carrying water for an agent.
February 14, 2023
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