Is “Cool” Derek Carr The Next Brett Favre?

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As Oakland Raiders fans know by now, this site can’t get enough of Derek Carr. Recently, Sports Illustrated proved that the sports community outside of our humble Oakland can’t get enough of him either.

Carr was featured in a “Rising Star” segment on Sports Illustrated, and this is as exciting as it gets for Raiders fans in the offseason. Actually, all of this hype and potential surrounding the team has been one of the most anticipated things for this team in recent history. Aside from the ongoing stadium drama, Raiders nation can’t wait to have something to cheer for this season. All signs point towards Derek Carr and his likely breakout season.

The segment on Carr is a video, and it really is fun to watch it. Phil Taylor of Sports Illustrated kicks off the video by saying Derek Carr is “cool”. He couldn’t be more accurate.

Then, Taylor went into something that could be Carr’s trademark as a star quarterback. Carr may not be a scrambling guy, but he is a stellar athlete. As a pocket passer, Carr isn’t a guy who will just stand in the pocket until a receiver gets open or he gets sacked. Carr uses his brains and sharp footwork to create gaps between himself and defenders to extend plays. With Amari Cooper on his side, Carr will certainly cash in some big plays with their combined athleticism and high football IQ.

Also in the video, Carr referenced Brett Favre as a strong influence. Derek Carr could certainly be the new Brett Favre. Carr’s similarities to him go well beyond the number four, and the two of them are roughly the same size. Frankly, it would be ridiculous for anyone to disagree with this notion that Carr’s style is almost identical to Favre. Yes, Carr is still a developing talent, but he will definitely grow into the dynamic leader that Brett Favre was for many years.

One of the best things about Brett Favre was his great passion, and Carr said he wants to display that as well. So many players in the NFL have all of the talent in the world. However, that means nothing without passion. Talent turns into productivity and leadership when you work harder and have more fun than anybody else.

Some people might say that all of these articles about Carr are “beating a dead horse”, but they could not be more wrong. Along with Jack Del Rio, Amari Cooper, and Khalil Mack, Derek Carr is the saving grace that the Oakland Raiders have needed for a long time. It’s important to let everybody who follows football know that Derek Carr is the real deal.

Unfortunately, there are times when young players let praise lead them down the wrong path. The Raiders have even had players like Terrelle Pryor get accolades rained down upon them. Too often we see players like him get big heads and turn out to be busts. It’s seems safe to say that Carr is unlike those types of players because he has a humble, positive attitude.

More from Derek Carr

Derek said that his brother, David, told him that neither praise nor criticism matter. To Carr, the key to success is “go in, work hard, and keep your mouth shut.” Isn’t that one of the most refreshing things you’ve ever heard from an NFL player? It gets tiring to see all of the fat heads like Richard Sherman run their mouths about how “great” they are.

Simply put, Carr seems like a person that’s easy and fun to be around. He’s a great leader, and Carr shows that through his youth football camp that was highlighted in the video segment. It also touched on his great level of maturity despite being 24 years old. Right before his senior season of college, Carr’s newborn son required emergency surgery. His son is fortunately healthy today, but events like that have molded Carr into the cool, composed person he is today.

If you’re a Raiders fan, the next thing you need to do with your day is watch the video that’s linked above. Nothing will get you more excited for upcoming Raiders football. Derek Carr is the best thing that happened to this team in a very long time. We can’t wait to see his great career unfold. Will Derek Carr be the next Brett Favre?

Next: Khalik Mack Will Dismantle The Competition