One Las Vegas Raiders super fan was tweeting through it after the team benched starting quarterback Derek Carr for the remainder of the season.
The Las Vegas Raiders fanbase had high hopes heading into the 2022 season. They had just made the playoffs in 2021, they traded for star wide receiver Davante Adams, and signed linebacker Chandler Jones. Instead, the Raiders are 6-9 on the year entering Week 17, yet still mathematically in playoff contention. even so, the Raiders have seemingly punted on the season.
On Wednesday, the team announced that they are benching starting quarterback Derek Carr in favor of Jarrett Stidham. Again, the team is still in playoff contention, but they will not be playing their veteran for the final two games of the season.
It was a pretty rough day for the Raiders faithful. One superfan, Raider Cody, was tweeting through it.
Raiders superfan tweets thorough pain after team benches Derek Carr
McDaniels should look in the mirror. Taking a top-10 talented QB in this stage of his career and not giving him a single say in the offense.
— RC (@RaiderCody) December 28, 2022
If you wanna be THE MAN, you better know what you’re doing. Otherwise learn to work with the leader of your team better.
Such a joke of a decision. Josh will dig this organization into a hole, while we were a player or 2 away from a Super Bowl caliber roster.
— RC (@RaiderCody) December 28, 2022
But we’re stuck with this little league head coach. Gonna be a LONG offseason.
I’ll still wake up Sunday cheering for a win.. but this makes being a fan super frustrating. I’ll never put a player above the team but the effort Derek has given, makes things feel different.
— RC (@RaiderCody) December 28, 2022
I want Jarrett to succeed, but I’m sure he even agrees he’s being put in a tough spot.
https://twitter.com/RaiderCody/status/1608191630871527425?s=20
From bashing head coach Josh McDaniels for making the decision to bench Carr for Stidham, a former New England Patriots draft pick, to calling out the obscene ticket prices for the home game against the 49ers on Sunday.
The fact of the matter is, the organization has an important decision to make regarding Carr’s future. Even though general manager Dave Ziegler and owner Mark Davis signed Carr to a three-year, $121.5 million contract, they do have a way to get out of the deal. If they do so before Feb. 15, they will only be assessed a $5.6 million cap hit. Not just that, but Carr won’t be guaranteed $33 million for the 2023 season.
With the playoffs not exactly realistic, the Raiders are benching Carr to essentially avoid injury that could hurt trade chances. That is what ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports, where he also says Carr returning to the team is still a possibility.
Sources: #Raiders have benched Derek Carr in part to preserve his health for a potential trade this offseason. Don't want to risk injury, and his market could heat up after the Super Bowl, sources say, though option to stay still on the table.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 28, 2022
Carr has been with the organization since being selected in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Fresno State. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards (35,222) and passing touchdowns (217). But after season No. 9, there is a possibility that Carr will be playing football elsewhere.