After some early offseason drama regarding his contract situation, Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders were finally able to agree to terms on an extension. The quarterback’s new deal is for five years worth $125 million, making him the highest paid player in NFL history.
During the 2016 NFL season, Carr certainly looked like a quarterback worth that much, leading the Raiders to one of their most exciting and successful seasons in the past two decades. Oakland finished with a 12-4 season record and may have gone farther in the postseason had Carr not broken his right leg. With the 2017 season on the way, Michael David Smith of NBC Sports reported that Carr has made it clear he is only looking to win:
“My No. 1 goal is to make sure that I give everything I have to this organization,” Carr said. “So there’s no pressure, there’s no, ‘We’ll be on the 1-yard line and I won’t give it to Marshawn, I’ll throw it.’ None of that stuff. I don’t care about the stats. That’s not my No. 1 objective. I don’t care if I throw 10 touchdowns next year. If we win every game, that’s all I care about.”
Carr’s comments reference Super Bowl XLIX where the Seattle Seahawks opted to have Russell Wilson throw at the one-yard line instead of just handing it to Lynch. The pass was ultimately intercepted and the New England Patriots walked away as the champions. While the memory is probably a difficult one for Lynch, the running back can take solace in the fact that Carr can trust him with the game on the line.
Now that Carr has officially agreed to remain with the Raiders for the long-term, the team can now begin to focus all their attention on training camp and the preseason. It is an exciting time for the silver and black, especially now that their leader is staying.
