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‘He wanted to make it work’: Derek Carr’s brother David opens up about Valentine’s Day quarterback split with Las Vegas Raiders… while continuing talks with New York Jets
David Carr spoke about the acrimonious split between the Las Vegas Raiders and his younger brother, Derek, as the 31-year-old quarterback explores free agency amid interest from the New York Jets.
Carr was widely expected to sign with the Saints earlier this month after receiving permission to speak with executives for the Louisiana-based franchise.
The four-time Pro Bowler decided to stay in Sin City, refusing to accept a trade to New Orleans or any other NFL team, ultimately leading to his release on Valentine’s Day.
However, in an appearance on the NFL Network’s latest broadcast of ‘NFL Total Access,’ David Carr, Derek’s brother and a former NFL quarterback, said his younger brother ‘would have loved to have been involved in those conversations.
“He was never asked to participate in those conversations,” said David, who was once drafted by the Houston Texans with the first overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft last week. “So I think that was the hardest part of him, he wanted to make it work, but in the end it didn’t work and he was released, so now both parties are going their separate ways.”
David Carr spoke about the V-Day split between the Raiders and his younger brother, Derek.
Carr played nine years in Sin City. The 31-year-old is a first agent for the first time in his career.
The former Panthers, 49ers and Giants QB, who won a Super Bowl during his second stint in New York in 2011, added that Carr was “in the dark for a while” when the Raiders’ season closed out, even though he was in “the sol’ in Mexico on the day of his release.
The quarterback also yearned for more influence on the team’s offense and wanted to use his ‘superpower’ to turn plays up the line of scrimmage by anticipating how opponents would set up defensively, much like Peyton Manning.
But, David said his younger brother couldn’t do that with first-year Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels last season.
Carr has worked with six different trainers in eight years in Las Vegas, including McDaniels, Dennis Allen, Tony Sparana, Jack Del Rio, Jon Gruden and Rich Bisaccia.
“There was a difference of opinion as to how to run attacking football and how to play attacking football,” David said.
“When you’re a veteran quarterback, you’ve got veteran guys, they want some control in the line of scrimmage.”
One NFL team that could possibly give Carr the privilege of making his own decisions while under center is the New York Jets. The 2014 second-round pick visited the team facility earlier this month. ESPN described conversations with team executives as “positive.”
David said Raiders coach Josh McDaniels did not give Carr any license to run the offense.
In any case, David called Carr’s free agency a “unique opportunity” as the quarterback gets to “hand pick” where he will play next.
Carr agreed to a three-year, $121.5 million extension with the Raiders in April of last year, but his release earlier this month allowed the team to avoid paying the QB $40 million that would have been guaranteed money.
David said his younger brother will figure things out in due course this offseason.
“He’s a smart guy,” the 42-year-old said. ‘He knows what he wants. He is very focused on making the right decision for his family and his future. He still wants to play good football.