Lee Smith on the “attacks” on Derek Carr and the report that #Raiders players question QB’s toughness: pic.twitter.com/VEspIpkiQO
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) October 24, 2018
The Raiders held media availability on Wednesday for the first time since Monday night’s bombshell report that quarterback Derek Carr had lost the locker room, and that footage of him apparently crying during a loss to the Seahawks didn’t help.
Here’s an excerpt of that report via Marcus Thompson of The Athletic:
“Raiders headquarters is not the best space for Carr. The belief in him has deteriorated, perhaps to irreparable levels. Team sources describe a fractured relationship between Carr and his teammates, mostly because confidence in him has waned. It certainly didn’t help when film showed what looked like him crying after being sacked and injuring his arm. They saw his face. They heard his whimper. They witnessed him explain on the sidelines. They assuredly watched it again in film session. It’s hard to see how Carr can lead this team again.”
The defense of Carr from his teammates wasn’t exactly full-throated on Wednesday, as few Raiders players chose to speak to the media. The loudest declaration came from tight end Lee Smith, who spoke passionately to reporters at the Raiders facility in Alameda.
“Attacking (Carr) as a leader on this football team is a joke,” Smith said. “I hope everyone hears me loud and clear what a joke it is. It’s frustrating, it’s annoying and it’s laughable and not fair to him when it is obviously not coming from inside this locker room.
“Anybody can say whatever they want. Coach (Jon) Gruden and Derek are going to take all the bullets. We are 1-5, not playing the football we want to play. Coach Gruden had a lot of expectations coming, we had a lot of expectations coming in. I understand those two guys take most of the bullets. Those two can definitely handle it. If anybody can handle it, it’s Derek Carr, based off the person he is and the character he has.”
Part 2 of Smith’s statement: pic.twitter.com/Ri9LhoBWJV
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) October 24, 2018
“To ever insinuate there is an issue inside this locker room with our leader and captain is the biggest joke I’ve ever seen and I’ve been around this league my whole life,” Smith said.
“What’s relevant is there is a brotherhood inside this locker room that is very special, unlike any team I’ve ever been a part on. The attacking of our strongest leader and strongest man in our locker room is absolutely horses—.”
Head coach Jon Gruden also spoke with the media for the first time since trading wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Cowboys. He reiterated that he’s not planning on trading anyone else.
“I don’t see us making any more trades; I didn’t see us making a trade the other day, I really didn’t,” Gruden said. “Sometimes, plans change, whether you like it or not. You don’t know who’s going to call you, what they’re going to say.
“I don’t see us making any more trades, but I’ll never say never again…certainly, I don’t see us trading our quarterback.”
