Derek Carr Understands Being Benched in Blowout

Nov 30, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) attempts a pass against the St. Louis Rams during the second half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Embarrassed and physically outmatched on Sunday, the Oakland Raiders made the tough decision to pull Derek Carr in the second half of a 52-0 loss to the St. Louis Rams. It was a calculated move to avoid injury to their rookie quarterback as the Raiders offensive line had no answer for the Rams defensive front in a game that was far out of reach.

Rather than risk further injury, the Raiders made veteran Matt Schaub earn his paycheck by putting him into garbage time. After the game, Carr understood the decision despite being upset of the result that led to him being pulled in a blowout loss giving the Raiders nothing to play for after a ten day layoff before taking on the Rams.

“I was pretty hot, pretty upset,” Carr said to the media postgame on how he felt about being pulled, before offering that once the explanation was given he understood the circumstances in which he was being taken out of the game for. “Then they explained why.”

“While it’s hard because I’m so competitive, but I do get it,” Carr said. “We have to be smart and understand that we have four games left. You can’t risk (injury) in the situation it was.”

Tony Sparano also told the media that playing Matt Schaub had nothing to do with Carr’s performance, but rather protecting the rookie from an injury that was needless.

“(Playing Schaub) has nothing to do with what Derek did or didn’t do, or any of those things,” Sparano said in his postgame presser. “I just had to be honest with myself at that point and take him out of the football game and not risk him potentially getting hurt. I made the decision to take him out of the game, and it was the right decision.”

It was the right decision to take out Carr at the end of the day, with the Rams defensive line getting through to the quarterback at will. Not risking Carr’s final games of the season in a blowout was the correct call, but the next time the Raiders pull their starting quarterback fans Carr be hoping that it is because of a big lead rather than an embarrassing loss.