Reigning Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady may only garner a 60-speed rating on Madden (which, frankly, seems generous), but the crafty 44-year-old has managed to stay a step ahead of Father Time. Brady’s continued dominance at this age is unprecedented, but Raiders quarterback Derek Carr thinks that could be him in 15 years. “I feel like I can play another 15 years, without a doubt,” the 30-year-old relayed to ESPN Raiders reporter Paul Gutierrez. “I feel like I'm 20. I honestly believe this—that our generation, the way we can take care of our bodies with football, I think 30 is the new 20.”
That may sound like big talk from a player who has reached the playoffs just once in his seven NFL seasons, but the three-time Pro Bowler quietly posted career-highs in both passing yards (4,103) and yards per attempt (7.9) last year while achieving a higher passer rating (101.4) than former MVPs Lamar Jackson (99.3) and Matt Ryan (93.3). While odds-makers don’t appear to have much faith in the Raiders this year (FanDuel Sportsbook set their over/under for wins at just 6.5), Carr says he’s never felt better. “I honestly feel stronger, faster, better than I first did when I got to the NFL,” insists the Fresno State alum. “That comes with more knowledge on how to train, how to eat, how to take care of your body. And that takes a little bit of money sometimes, but it's definitely worth it."
Already the Raiders’ franchise leader in career passing yards (26,896) and touchdowns (170), has been remarkably durable throughout his career, missing just two games (three if you include his absence from Oakland’s Wild Card loss to Houston in 2016) since debuting in 2014. “Nothing's hurting. It's the middle of camp and I feel great. I feel strong, I feel fast, I feel explosive,” expressed Carr. “I'm sitting here in Year 8, and I remember people ahead of me talking about Year 8 like, 'Yeah, I'm miserable,' and they can barely walk out of bed. I'm blessed, man. I don't have those problems.”
The Raiders were linked to both Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson at different points this offseason, though obviously neither of those trades came to fruition, leaving Carr once again atop the team's quarterback depth chart. Entering their second year in Las Vegas, the Raiders will hope to improve on the 8-8 record they posted last season, their best finish since Jon Gruden resumed his role as head coach in 2018 following lengthy detours in both Tampa Bay and the ESPN broadcast booth.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram