Derek Carr on retiring: I did not wish to 'simply take the Saints cash'

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr shocked the NFL world final month when he introduced his retirement as a consequence of an ongoing shoulder harm that will require surgical procedure and certain sideline him for the complete 2025 season.

However why did Carr resolve to retire, somewhat than get wholesome whereas below contract for the Saints?

“That half was robust [leaving money on the table] as a result of I didn’t wish to have surgical procedure and simply sit there, and it sounds loopy, however simply take the Saints cash,” Carr mentioned in an interview with Entrance Workplace Sports activities.

Carr, 34, was getting into the third season of a four-year, $150 million contract. His 2024 marketing campaign was hindered by an indirect harm, which sidelined Carr for 3 video games, and later a season-ending hand harm.

Throughout the ten video games that Carr appeared in, he totaled 2,145 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions and a 101.0 passer ranking, whereas finishing 67.7% of his passes. He ranked seventh amongst quarterbacks in passing grade (86.7) and eleventh in total grade (85.6), in keeping with Professional Soccer Focus.

“I wouldn’t have been capable of play if I had the surgical procedure,” Carr mentioned. “After which if I attempted to play with it, I wasn’t close to 100%, and in order that doesn’t assist them, both. I simply felt prefer it was the suitable factor to do for myself and for the workforce.”

When Carr retired, the Saints acknowledged that the quarterback had a “labral tear” and “important degenerative modifications to his rotator cuff.”

Carr, a four-time Professional Bowler, spent the primary 9 seasons of his NFL profession with the Raiders (2014-22), with whom he is first in franchise historical past with each 35,222 passing yards and 217 passing touchdowns.

In his first season with the Saints (2023), Carr totaled 3,878 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 97.7 passer ranking, whereas finishing 68.4% of his passes. New Orleans went 9-8 and missed the playoffs.

Derek Carr missed seven video games in 2024. (Picture by Elsa/Getty Pictures)

“I by no means performed only for the cash,” Carr mentioned. “I had a complete bunch of individuals inform me how loopy I used to be, and ‘Man, I might by no means have completed that.’ That’s all cool, however I’ve gained all this stuff that the world has to supply, and it doesn’t actually do something to your coronary heart. I knew my coronary heart was at peace, and that’s actually all that mattered.”

As for the Saints, they chose Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough with the No. 40 choose within the 2025 NFL Draft and have 2024 fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler, who made six begins as a rookie, and Jake Haener of their quarterback room.

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