The New Orleans Saints had an opportunity to split from Derek Carr, and they chose to keep the veteran quarterback. This was a likely scenario and wasn’t surprising, though it was disappointing to some. A report of Carr being open to testing the market adds a new wrinkle to this story. It’s the latest chapter in Carr’s deteriorating relationship with the Saints and their fans and almost feels like Carr no longer wants to be on the team.
Carr’s public relations have been bad since joining the team, including yelling at teammates like Chris Olave and Erik McCoy and being noticeably absent during the Super Bowl activities. Being open to a divorce is only likely to worsen his relationship with fans.
It also feels like his relationship with the front office has dipped. Carr’s tie to New Orleans was Dennis Allen. With Allen out of the picture, Carr lost his biggest defender, and his desire to be here may subside. The regime change symbolizes a restart for the Saints, and Carr may not want to be a part of that. Carr may have wanted to spend his final years in the league with a contender.
These are valid reasons he could want out, but his actions suggest there may be more at play. There are reasons to believe he wouldn’t be happy in New Orleans. Being open to testing the market isn’t equal to requesting a release or a trade, but they give off a similar sentiment. This paints the picture of a discontent player who is ready to move on but fences can be mended.