Derek Carr, after spending nine years with the Las Vegas Raiders, nearly led the New Orleans Saints back to the playoffs in his first season as their starting quarterback in 2023. However, the team’s former general manager, Mike Mayock, has not been impressed with Carr’s performance since the departure of head coach Jon Gruden over a leaked email scandal. Mayock believes that Carr has regressed since Gruden left the Raiders, despite his success under the previous coaching staff. Carr was a four-time Pro Bowler with the Raiders and had a string of seasons with over 4,000 passing yards under Gruden, but he has not reached that mark since 2021.
Gruden was fired in the middle of the 2021 season, and Rich Bisaccia took over as interim coach. Before the 2022 season, Josh McDaniels was hired as the new head coach, and Dave Ziegler replaced Mayock as general manager. Mayock insists that the team never entertained trade offers for Carr, despite rumors swirling after the 2021 season. He believed that Carr was among a group of quarterbacks that can lead a team to success and that under Gruden’s coaching, Carr had developed into a top 12 or 13 quarterback by the end of the 2021 season.
Carr’s performance in 2023 with the Saints saw him throw for 3,878 passing yards, 25 touchdown passes, and only eight interceptions. This was the first time since 2020 that Carr threw for fewer than 10 interceptions in a season. Despite Mayock’s criticism, Carr had a solid season statistically and helped keep the Saints in playoff contention. His tenure with the Saints marked a new chapter in his career after his long stint with the Raiders, and he proved that he can still be a productive quarterback in the league.
The future of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals has been thrown into question after voters rejected a stadium tax, impacting both teams’ ability to secure funding for their facilities. This decision has implications for the teams’ long-term success and sustainability in the city. The rejection of the tax could hinder the organizations’ ability to maintain and upgrade their stadiums, which are crucial for attracting top talent and providing a positive fan experience. The outcome of this decision signals potential challenges ahead for both franchises as they navigate the financial implications of the tax rejection.
