OAKLAND -- Derek Carr had his best performance of the season Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. It didn’t contribute to a win -- the Raiders lost 42-28 -- but it showed how effective the quarterback can be when he's going strong.
Carr doesn’t believe it was one of his last games as a Raider. He has been the subject of trade rumors over the past few weeks as the NFL heads toward Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Carr doesn’t believe he’s going anywhere this week or in the offseason. He believes he’ll continue to be the Raiders' franchise quarterback, with some evidence to support that faith.
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“I’ll say this: The conversations I’ve had with those guys makes me confident I’m going to be here,” Carr said. “When I heard all this stuff, it didn’t worry me. It’s more fun for people to talk about and try and figure things out on ESPN.
"I’m not worried. I’m an Oakland Raider. I’m a Raider. I’m not going anywhere. I love this place, and I want to win a championship for the Raiders.”
Those statements came after a game in which he completed 21 of 28 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for another. It also came after an ESPN report saying the Raiders made it clear to Carr that he won’t be traded before the deadline, and that he’ll likely be the team’s quarterback next season, too.
Carr said there was no specific conversation stating he wouldn’t be dealt, as ESPN reported.
NFL
Gruden has continued to say he believes in Carr as his signal-caller, and did so again Sunday.
“I’ve said that I think he’s going to be a great player,” Gruden said. "… I’ll again say that he’s the strength of this team, and I’m excited about it."
Carr admitted that this week was a tough one, especially with trade rumors swirling and a report that he had lost the locker room.
"I had to answer some funny questions, but I know you guys have to do your jobs," Carr said. "It's nothing personal. I know that. But it was different. If I'm being honest, as a human, it was hard. A lot of stuff that was going around, I was like, 'Man, that's just not true, and that hurts.' Especially just as a man, not even as a football player. My goodness, enough is enough.
"Just to be able to go out here and play football again was the best part. I knew media day was Wednesday, and the best part of my day was being able to get back on the field and just play football and keep learning from Coach Gruden."