Saints head coach Kellen Moore introductory press conference, media updates, February 13, 2025 (21 Viewers)

[DeuceMcAllisterFan]

We may or may not stick with Carr this upcoming season. Moore didn't really confirm anything. Who knows. But one thing is for sure after the presser, Moore didnt come here because of Carr and it doesn’t sound like Carr is Moore's guy either. Either way, Carr is on borrowed time.

 

[nakadish]

It's their job to ask if Carr is the starter. We all know it's an issue because Carr made it an issue when he said he would not take a pay cut without even being asked. He knows there is a decision to be made due to his $40 million salary for the year and the $30 million guaranteed money deadline. The front office and Moore know it too. Hell, even we know it and have been talking about it for weeks.

It's an obvious question that needed to be asked. And I don't understand why you would have a problem with them asking if Carr was the starting QB, but are chiding the media for not asking the same question about Rattler and Haener.

That's a crazy question to ask in his initial press conference. How much film do you think the guy's looked at to be able to give a definitive answer to that?

Don't ask stupid questions, and you don't get non-answers.

What's funny is how people hear what they want to hear. Some say that his comments say that they are moving on from Carr, and others say that his comments say that he is sticking with Carr, when in reality he's saying, "I don't know, yet".

 

[St. Widge]

They may think that there's an equal or better QB that they can get that Moore would like.

Sure but IMO none of those guys are better than Carr. If Moore thinks one is better then sure do it. I just think it makes more sense to bring in young guys to see if they can become franchise QBs by playing them rather than signing journeymen who very likely are at their ceiling and likely won't be on your team for long.

And, if you are not going to roll the dice on a young guy, I'd rather stick with Carr who you know is at least a mid-level QB.

 

[SailorJerrysHorse]

I agree people are looking bit far into the comment. But, I do think the fact that Moore did not just say "Yes, Derek Carr is our starting QB" means that there is at least some question in his mind if Carr will be the starting QB. That could be about whether Carr will take a pay cut, could be about whether they could actually cut him and field a competitive team, could be that he's not sure if he can find a better option, etc.

But, I do think it's fair to conclude that Moore and the front office think there is a decision to be made regarding whether Carr is the starting QB next year.

I think as well it comes back to WHY the questions were asked in the first place. Mike et al brought it up, and we’re all subsequently trying to interpret Moore’s answer, because of the previous report/“scuttlebutt”/slip of the tongue (however you want to take Russini’s comment) that implied Moore needed assurances that he wasn’t tied to Carr if he took the job.

The seed of doubt that Carr was a part if Moore’s plan was planted before he even took the job. I think ultimately it comes down to the fact that right now, on day 1 essentially, he does not know yet what’s possible with regards to Carr’s contract vs the cap situation vs the options at qb (either in house or outside of it). That’s why he talked about it all as a process that they would do together. Whether Carr is the QB or not, he will still be an active part of that process as it directly relates to his contract (restructure and keep him as QB1, try and figure out a trade situation, or figure out a way to do a post June 1 cut).

 

[Elvis]

He's 31 now (likely 32 next offseason) so I don't really see the point in seeing if he's really an NFL starting QB. I'd just rather either go with Carr meaning you are trying to win the Division this year or go with an upside guy like Rattler, Fields, Malik Willis, McKee, etc. And, as you know, my preference is to go with a young guy to find out if you need to draft a QB high in 2026. To me, someone like Rush means you are going to draft a QB high in 2026 because you know he isn't the long term answer and you don't know if Rattler or another young guy is. And I hate the idea of being forced to pick a QB high in 2026 since you just never know if any of the QBs will be worth a high pick, and if they are, you don't know if you will be in range to pick them.

I guess if you bring Rush in as a veteran backup to mentor the young guys I would get it. But, it would have to be a really cheap deal.

Yeah, of course. League minimum to come here and a bit of a raise if he had to play a lot of meaningful snaps. I'm not suggesting that he'd ever be a long term starter or anything. Just that he would be serviceable in a "get right" year if Rattler had a huge setback and couldn't beat him out. Maybe even bring in one of the other guys you mentioned too. But you can't just let Rattler not compete with another guy who hasn't been in the NFL long. Someone like Rush just makes sense as a guy who has started games recently, has played for Kellen Moore before and someone to push the other guys in camp a little.

 

[StudioSaint]

You already know he's not going to say that either is the starter since he wouldn't say it about Carr.

I think that's probably what his answer would be, but the only way to know that is to ask. The reporters all failed to mention what you just pointed out.

But it's also possible that it's Rattler or someone not even on the roster right now.

You say the above and you say the below to me when I said it might be a free agent veteran.

There would be no point to moving on from Carr only to sign a lesser and older journeyman QB to start. Not to mention that if they part ways with Carr they may not have the cap space to sign any of those guys. The only guy that might make sense in that group is McKee who is at least young with upside and might come at a number we can afford given that he would be on a 5th round pick salary.​

Seems like you're arguing just for the sake of argument. Not all veterans are old or high priced and Moore might like a QB that you consider to be a lesser journeyman. It's like you think Moore's opinions are going to be in lock step with yours.

 

[Bayou_City]

I didn't expect Rattler to "ball out." He was a backup for a reason.

He couldn't ball out even if he the Purple Heart Shaped Herb. That offense was on its last leg. He was just missing his Archie Manning moment of a reverse helmet or being jersey less.

 

[Elvis]

That's a crazy question to ask in his initial press conference. How much film do you think the guy's looked at to be able to give a definitive answer to that?

Don't ask stupid questions, and you don't get non-answers.

What's funny is how people hear what they want to hear. Some say that his comments say that they are moving on from Carr, and others say that his comments say that he is sticking with Carr, when in reality he's saying, "I don't know, yet".

I actually agree. Most of that press conference was the same "excited", "tremendous", "teaming up", etc. over and over. The times when people actually asked him football, and not roster/staff, questions he was far more forthcoming. I don't think we should be reading into anything he said about the roster at all, either way.

 

[St. Widge]

That's a crazy question to ask in his initial press conference. How much film do you think the guy's looked at to be able to give a definitive answer to that?

Don't ask stupid question, and you don't get non-answers.

What's funny is how people hear what they want to hear. Some say that his comments say that they are moving on from Carr, and others say that his comments say that he is sticking with Carr, when in reality he's saying, "I don't know, yet".

I think he was noncommittal on the QB position in his PC. But he no doubt has a plan for what he wants to do at QB that could change depending on circumstances.

There is no way he interviewed with Loomis without having an educated opinion to give on our QB situation?

There is no way that he took the job without having a decent idea what his plan was for the QB position in both the short and long term?

He's a smart guy. He has a plan even if he isn't going to tell us what it is. And the plan may have contingencies based on whether Carr will take a pay cut, what the cap is going to be, whether they can create money to sign a few key free agents, etc.

The last line of his friend, Dan Orlovsky's, tweet congratulating him on getting the job was something like "now go find your QB".

 

[StudioSaint]

If Moore thinks one is better then sure do it.

That's all I was saying. It's possible Moore has his eye on someone who's not with the team.

 

[St. Widge]

Seems like you're arguing just for the sake of argument. Not all veterans are old or high priced and Moore might like a QB that you consider to be a lesser journeyman. It's like you think Moore's opinions are going to be in lock step with yours.

I have neither said, implied, or believe any of this. I have on multiple occasions said that we don't know the plan and it could be anything. Then I stated my preference for a young player instead of an older journeyman. I did not say or imply that Moore felt that way. We don't know what he wants to do.

And FWIW, I think they specifically asked if Carr was the starter because he would either say Carr is the starter or he would not say it. If he said yes, it was settled, but once he did not say yes, we know the issue is not settled.

 

[treeduck]

Not long ago Eric Bieniemy was a hot head coach candidate, now he's just the running backs coach for the Bears. Not even an OC.

 

[ilvdsnts]

For the people that think the Saints organization is a dumpster fire and you have to be desperate to want to coach here, like many people thought throughout the process. The answer to that is at the 30:00 mark of the video.

 

[St. Widge]

That's all I was saying. It's possible Moore has his eye on someone who's not with the team.

Then we don't disagree.

 

[sfidc3]

I think he was noncommittal on the QB position in his PC. But he no doubt has a plan for what he wants to do at QB that could change depending on circumstances.

There is no way he interviewed with Loomis without having an educated opinion to give on our QB situation?

There is no way that he took the job without having a decent idea what his plan was for the QB position in both the short and long term?

He's a smart guy. He has a plan even if he isn't going to tell us what it is. And the plan may have contingencies based on whether Carr will take a pay cut, what the cap is going to be, whether they can create money to sign a few key free agents, etc.

The last line of his friend, Dan Orlovsky's, tweet congratulating him on getting the job was something like "now go find your QB".

Yup, I think right now it's impossible to say what he is thinking.....Will he have a strong enough opinion after watching and evaluating enough film on Carr to keep him? Or does he have his eye on another, younger option......Because if Carr is still here come TC, unless Rattler has improved immensely odds are Carr will start.....at least that's my feeling....