Losses piling up is never great for morale. But the way the Raiders have been losing this season and the quality of the teams they’ve been losing to of late, they are well past low morale and into shambles territory.
This week there seemed to be pretty strong evidence this team was packing it in and shifting their focus to next year. Or at least it did with regard to the transactions that were made which sent several players to injured reserve and a couple players gone via cut and retirement.
Following Sunday’s 25-20 loss to the Colts, we got proof positive that checking out has permeated the entire team.
Derek Carr took to the podium already visibly emotional after he and other team leaders had a heated talk about a perceived lack of energy and effort. That emotion continued as he several times got choked up and either had to take a moment to compose himself or couldn’t finish at all.
“I can’t speak for everybody. I know where I stand and I love the Silver & Black and I’m going to give it everything I can every time I go out there. I can’t speak for everybody. For every man, what’s going on in there head, but I can tell you what’s going on in my head and I’m going to give it everything I have every single time…”
That’s was Carr’s first answer and that’s as far as he got before having to stop.
It was the emotion of a guy who knew coming into this season that it seemed like the best and perhaps the last chance this team as currently constructed would have to make a playoff run. And with still nearly half the season remaining, that ship has already sailed.
But Carr went farther. Giving us a glimpse into just how dysfunctional this locker room has become.
Carr said he “doesn’t think” the issue is with a disconnect between him and the coaches. Then he got choked up again and had to take another moment.
“I’m sorry for being emotional. I’m just pissed off about some of the things that a lot of us are trying to do just to practice. What we put our bodies through just to sleep at night,” Carr said through tears. “And for that to be the result. Of all that effort. It pisses me off. Pisses a lot of guys off. It’s hard. Knowing what some guys are doing. Like I said, just to practice. What they’re putting in their body just to sleep at night. Just so we can be there for each other. And I wish everybody in that room felt the same way about this place. And as a leader that pisses me off.”
Davante Adams echoed…
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