Oakland Raiders linebacker Derrick Johnson spent plenty of time hounding quarterback Derek Carr when he was with the Kansas City Chiefs. He has now seen a side of Carr that is different from quarterbacks he has played with in his career.
It goes without saying that quarterbacks are hardly considered the toughest guys on the field. However, according to Ryan Lipton of silverandblackpride.com, Johnson is impressed with the grit he has seen from Carr this offseason:
“[Carr’s] a grinder,” Johnson said on Tuesday. “He’s a very gritty quarterback. Usually you don’t use those words for a quarterback. They’re prima donnas, you can’t touch the quarterback.”
Johnson's comments should come as no surprise. The Raiders star quarterback has never been one to boast about his accomplishments and is widely considered one of the most humble players in the NFL. The only time he has ever been outspoken is when discussing his faith.
Regardless, it is not unusual for talented quarterbacks to simply go through the motions at this point in the offseason. However, it is clear that Carr is not taking this approach. Given his tumultuous 2017 campaign and the arrival of head coach Jon Gruden, there is no room for a prima donna in the locker room.
However, Johnson's comments may be indicative of the type of quarterbacks he has come across during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. The 13-year veteran has played with a number of signal-callers including Trent Green, Brady Quinn, and Alex Smith. That said, perhaps it is refreshing to see one like Carr display the similar competitive traits that Johnson has.
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