Former Raiders great speaks on the Derek Carr situation
Charles Woodson's run with the Raiders somewhat mimics Derek Carr's. Woodson was drafted by the Raiders with the fourth overall pick in 1998. He played eight seasons with the organization as he racked up a Defensive Rookie of the Year selection, four-time Pro Bowl selections, and a one-time All-Pro selection. And he was then allowed […]
Charles Woodson's run with the Raiders somewhat mimics Derek Carr's.
Woodson was drafted by the Raiders with the fourth overall pick in 1998. He played eight seasons with the organization as he racked up a Defensive Rookie of the Year selection, four-time Pro Bowl selections, and a one-time All-Pro selection. And he was then allowed to just leave.
He has keen insight into what it's like to be discarded by the Raiders. So, he was recently asked for his perspective on the Carr situation. Here is what he had to say:
“It’s not unique. The business gets everybody at some point. At this point it caught up with him,” Woodson said.
"I think with Derek, everybody sees what he’s gone through as a player, from the amount of head coaches he’s gone through, the amount of offensive coordinators he’s been through, the year they had last year (2021) with all the off the field stuff and the way he handled it, he handled it with a lot of style and grace, and I think they look at it and say if anybody deserves a chance to leave his way it would be him. But, again, this business gets everybody at some point, and there’s never an exact science as to the way these things are handled.”
Contracts matter more
Woodson understands why fans and Carr's camp could feel like they have been wronged. But he also expressed some understanding of the business perspective of the move, indicating that contracts and contract structure matter more sometimes.
“I certainly understand people saying that he’s been wronged," he said. "But again, when you think about the fact that the way the contracts are, all that plays into the fact that if he plays and gets hurt, they’d be on the hook for [the guaranteed money in his contract], you kind of get it on both sides and that’s the business side of it that everybody always talks about.”
Seeing Carr go was always going to be difficult for the Raiders, but now is the time. The bridge is burnt. It's best to get the move over as swiftly as possible.
Related Las Vegas Raiders reading
"Report: Raiders reveal what they are seeking in Derek Carr trade."
"Aaron Rodgers has a response most Raiders fans won't like to hear."
Feature image via Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
