I Think Sometimes We Focus on the Wrong Things (My Thoughts on Derek Carr Catching Backlash for Not Being in the City)

SystemShock said

Those are all nice sentiments, but just that, sentiments...you really can tell if a player "loves" a city, or he's just doing it for PR.

And Carr specifically,... it'd be hard for me to embrace a city that doesn't embrace me. That whole Chipotle fiasco, who the heck cares where Carr eats with his family?

Click to expand...

I don't know what that means about sentiments.

But anyway, I don't care where Carr eats with his family and made no comment about that so I don't know why you are bringing it up in response to me.

However, it is clear that he hasn't embraced the city and doesn't really care to be here other than when he has to be here. You can tell the guys who do in Demario Davis, Cam Jordan, etc. And yes, part of the deal with being the starting QB of the Saints is to be part of the community and be a culture bearer for the city. Part of that means showing up to talk up the city during the Super Bowl when it is here.

Of course, it's his right to not be here. But, it's also the right of fans to say that they want a QB who does embrace the city and who does care about the city. At the same point, I get why fans that don't live here and/or aren't from here might not care so much about it.

And yes, you can tell if a player loves the city or not and Carr clearly does not. Carr just might not be the right fit to be the starting QB in New Orleans. Doesn't make him a bad guy or a bad QB, but in the end it's probably in the interest of Carr, the Saints, and Saints fans that they part ways with no hard feelings.