James Jones calls Derek Carr the 'Mini Aaron Rodgers'

The Oakland Raiders made a bold choice this past week when they announced that rookie second round draft pick Derek Carr will be starting for the team Week 1 when they take on the New York Jets this Sunday. Carr will be the only rookie quarterback across the entire NFL to start Week 1.

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The rookie beat out NFL veteran Matt Schaub, who was brought in by the Raiders this offseason to be the team’s starting quarterback. Among the many reasons Carr was chosen as the starter is the obvious; Carr simply outplayed Schaub by a landslide margin.

In the preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks, Carr went 11-13 for 143 yards and three touchdowns. Matt Schaub sat out the game as a precaution, and ultimately it cost him his starting job.

As the Raiders move forward with a rookie quarterback, his teammates are behind him 100 percent. James Jones, who joined the Raiders this offseason from the Green Bay Packers, had some very high praise for Carr earlier this week when Jones compared him to the great Aaron Rodgers.

“He’s really calm, really cool in the pocket,” Jones told the San Francisco Chronicle. “He acts like he’s been there before. I’ve been calling him mini A-Rod since he got here.”

Jones is not the only teammate singing the praises of Carr, as Raiders center Stefen Wisniewski noted that Carr is unlike most rookies.

“He’s not your typical rookie,” Wisniewski said. “He’s got an NFL quarterback older brother that’s been teaching him for years. He understands defenses at a very advanced level more than most rookies would. I think Derek gets way more prepared than most rookies would be.”

We will find out how Carr performs on the big stage this weekend when the Raiders take on the Jets this Sunday.

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James Jones calls Derek Carr the ‘Mini Aaron Rodgers’

By Alex Schlinsky | Sep 3, 2014