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The Oakland Raiders are set to bring aboard Jon Gruden as the next head coach, which has shifted the focus toward his relationship with Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr.
There have already been questions concerning Carr's ability to handle Gruden's brash coaching style that could test his mental fortitude. With that in mind, former Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon addressed the situation stating that the 26-year-old's toughness will quickly be determined, according to Paul Guitterez of ESPN.
“If [Carr] doesn't want to come in and spend eight hours on Tuesday, his day off, then you can't make him. If he's not a guy that's going to come in and grind away on Monday nights, or stay late on Friday, then you get what you get. You're going to get out of it what you put into it. I always say that those that invest the most are the last to surrender. We're going to find out how tough this guy is, and how hard he's willing to work to really take his game to the next level, but more importantly, to take the Raiders to the next level.”
Gannon has much first-hand experience having played under Gruden for three years during his tenure with the Raiders. There is plenty of insight and advice that he could offer Carr in how to best handle working with his new head coach.
What makes these comments from Gannon more intriguing is that there are reports that he could become the Raiders quarterback coach and work directly with Carr. That said, this only further underlines the importance of the relationship between the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback and Gruden.
The Raiders certainly have a lot of stock into Carr as their star quarterback after inking a five-year, $125 million contract with him last June. With the team also reportedly set to sign Gruden to a 10-year, $100 million, it pushes this dynamic between the two to the forefront of impacting the team's future.
