The Oakland Raiders finally managed to get back into the win column with their victory over the equally-lowly Arizona Cardinals in Week 11. However, the highlight of the day came during a heated exchange between head coach Jon Gruden and Derek Carr.
Both men were seen arguing following a three-and-out in the second quarter. According to Josh Dubow of The Associated Press, Carr downplayed the whole incident:
”It’s not the first time him and I have been that way. We’re both very fiery,” Carr said Sunday. ”A lot of people don’t see that in me, right? All the time. We’re both very fiery, we’re both very competitive. Minor disagreement on something and the beautiful thing is that when we do that, it’s never like a demeaning thing, or pointing a finger. It’s just, we’re both yelling the same kind of thing almost. It’s us both saying let’s fix it kind of deal. Again, it’s not the first time, I doubt it’ll be the last time, but everything’s good, I promise.”
Gruden doubled down on Carr’s notion of the intensity between the two.
”I’m a big cheerleader sometimes,” he said. ”I’m very positive a lot of the time. Every once in a while, I think you have to make your points in some different ways. Sometimes raising your voice. I look ridiculous to some people, but I want urgency. I want to have some urgency to get things right. It doesn’t mean I’m always right, either. Derek pointed that out to me yesterday. So be it.”
It is encouraging to see that Gruden and Carr were on the same page about the whole affair. It certainly appeared as though they both had finally reached their boiling point following their struggles early on. Furthermore, the two continued to bicker on multiple occasions later in the game. Considering all that has transpired in the 2018 NFL season, it is strange that there have not been more instances such as these prior to Week 11.
Fortunately, they were able to overcome their frustrations to register a win for the first time in five weeks. Carr completed 19-of-31 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns in the clutch 23-21 victory. He and Gruden have become the face of the franchise in the midst of this disastrous 2018 campaign. There is already plenty of speculation regarding Carr’s future after the Raiders essentially cleaned house this year. Their rapport moving forward will undoubtedly be a major headline moving forward into the offseason.
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