Raiders quarterback and former Fresno State Bulldog Derek Carr quelled retirement rumors in a goodbye message to Raider Nation Thursday.
Carr’s heartfelt message comes just weeks after Head Coach Josh McDaniels benched the longtime Raider after Las Vegas was officially eliminated from playoff contention. Carr left the team after being benched in order to not be a distraction.
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Driving the news: After a standout career at Fresno State, Carr was selected early in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the then-Oakland Raiders.
- Carr’s nine-year tenure with the Raiders saw the team break a 14-year playoff drought in 2016, when he finished tied for third in MVP voting.
- His time with the Raiders was challenging as he has had six different head coaches.
- With a no-trade clause, Carr has full control over choosing his next destination to continue his NFL Career.
What they’re saying: Carr thanked Raider Nation on Twitter, saying it breaks his heart that he did not have an opportunity to say goodbye in person after he left the team near the end of the season.
- “It’s especially hard to say goodbye because I can honestly say that I gave you everything I had, every single day, in season, and in the offseason,” Carr wrote. “It certainly wasn’t perfect, but I hope that I was able to leave you with more than a few great memories as Raider fans.”
- Carr continued, “I once said that if I’m not a Raider I would rather be at home and I meant that, but I never envisioned it ending this way. That fire burning inside of me to win a championship still rages. A fire no man can extinguish; only God. So I look forward to a new city and a new team who, no matter the circumstance, will get everything I have. Winning a championship is what I’ve always wanted and what I will continue to work towards.”
