© Denny Medley | 2018 Dec 30
Derek Carr is upset.
After Raiders head coach Jon Gruden praised Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, many began to speculate that Gruden may look to try and move Carr this offseason, and select Murray in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Two of the individuals pushing said theory are Max Kellerman and Stephen A. Smith of ESPN’s First Take. Kellerman said on Wednesday’s show: “Carr didn’t want it. Gruden knows they gotta move on, and the question is, can they get anything for him?”
This seemed to set off the typically mild-mannered Carr, who sent out a series of tweets on Wednesday afternoon that included reaching out to UFC president Dana White, asking him to set up a “fight” between him and the television “clowns.”
@ufc @danawhite hey how do I challenge a couple of these clowns on tv to a fight? I think we should start a business together. Where pro athletes can challenge some of these people to an octagon fight until they give us an answer…. You don’t know me… stop lying.
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) January 23, 2019
?it’s because I blocked them both for talking trash about our team. Those 2 clowns don’t know anything about this game. Would love to actually sit and break down film with these two on tv just to show their viewers how incompetent (lacking qualification) they are about our game.
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) January 23, 2019
Yes..say what you want but don’t question somebodies character as a man if you don’t know them. Our job as NFL athletes is to try and leave the game better for the next generations. So let’s start an octagon business to give some accountability to these kinds of people. ????
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) January 23, 2019
Stephen A. Smith responded on Twitter, inviting Carr to come on his show, and asking why exactly Carr wants to fight a 51 year-old television host.
Here’s the question: why is he talking about getting ME in the octagon instead of a UFC fighter, @danawhite. What do I have to do with the sorry-ass season the @Raiders. All I did was observe. But I’ll deal with this on @FirstTake. Yo, @derekcarrqb: Wrong Brother! https://t.co/rcjDxYyGYL
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 24, 2019
Hey @derekcarrqb…..I heard you had a few things to say. Consider this a personal invitation. You are more than welcome to come on @FirstTake or sit down with me for a 1-on-1. I’m here, Bro! Nobody hiding.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 24, 2019
In a hilarious twist, sports betting website Bovada posted odds on the theoretical fight, with Smith listed as the favorite to beat Carr.
Raiders’ QB @derekcarrqb has asked for a UFC fight with @stephenasmith. Bovada released odds on a potential Stephen A. Smith vs. Derek Carr fight.
Stephen A. Smith -130
Derek Carr -110
So there’s that…..
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 24, 2019