Carr says he won’t extend the deadline to support Raider’s deal

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Derek Carr said Thursday night he would not extend the Feb. 15 deadline to facilitate a Las Vegas Raiders trade.

The Raiders must trade or release the quarterback by that date — three days after the Super Bowl — or Carr’s contract will be guaranteed and Las Vegas will have to pay him $40.4 million over the next two years.

Because a swap wouldn’t be official until March 15, when the new league year begins, a team could reverse a previously struck deal. Carr would have to agree to extend the deadline in mid-February to ensure all agreements stand.

“I don’t think that would be best for me,” said Carr, who has a no-trade clause in his contract.

Still, Carr said a trade could be reached by Feb. 15, but didn’t sound like he was in any hurry to get there.

The Raiders have not given Carr or his agent Tim Younger permission to speak to other teams about a potential deal.

“I’m just playing by the rules,” Carr said. “If it comes to that date, then that date comes, and I can talk to all my friends.”

Carr competed in the precision passing competition at Raiders HQ as part of the Pro Bowl celebrations Event-high 31 points helped the AFC take an early 9-3 lead via NFC. When asked on ESPN’s show if he’d ever been that hot in Las Vegas, Carr quipped, “Not that hot. That’s probably why I go somewhere else.”

Carr played nine seasons for the Raiders and holds club records for career yards passed (35,222) and touchdown passes (217). But he’s also never won a playoff game. And after struggling late in the season, Carr was benched with two games left and admitted he was upset with the decision.

He said he was willing to try a free hand should the Raiders release him and said Peyton Manning shared his experience with him after going through a similar situation. The Indianapolis Colts fired Manning, who coaches the AFC team at the Pro Bowl, in 2012 and won a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos.

The story goes on

“He’s like, ‘Man, it was kind of surreal at the moment. Wow, you can’t believe it. But then you just go to the next place and move on and do your best there,'” Carr said. “It’s nice to hear that from someone who I think is the best to play the game.”

Carr said he will always consider himself a part of the Raiders organization and anticipates a possible return to team events in the future, but is excited for what may be next for his playing career.

“I only look for teams that have consistently made that decision that they’re going to do whatever it takes to bring a successful program to market,” Carr said. “So for me that’s just to win, to win a championship. That is in the foreground. It’s not money.”

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