The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2827930

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

The Carolina Panthers won the battle for free agent quarterback David Carr early Friday morning, reaching agreement in principle with the former Houston Texans star on a two-year contract, the financial details of which were not immediately available.

Carr was released by the Texans after Houston acquired Matt Schaub in a trade with Atlanta earlier this offseason. The first player selected overall in the 2002 draft, Carr will serve as the backup to Panthers starter Jake Delhomme, who is coming off an uneven 2006 season.

Carolina coach John Fox reiterated during the Panthers' courtship of Carr that Delhomme is the unchallenged starter, but the addition of Carr certainly provides an interesting alternative if the incumbent struggles as he did a year ago.

Carr, 27, chose the opportunity with the Panthers over one in Seattle. He visited with Carolina coaches and team officials on Monday and Tuesday, then made a two-day trip to meet with the Seahawks, where he would have also been a backup. After returning from the Seattle visit, Carr counseled with his wife and opted for the deal with Carolina.

The Cleveland Browns also indicated interest in Carr in recent days and the Miami Dolphins considered him as well. The only visits he made, however, were to Carolina and Seattle.

Obviously, the deal with Carolina represents a step back for Carr in his career, but most NFL experts believe the former Fresno State star still possesses immense talent and sorely needed a change of scenery.

In five seasons with the Texans, he completed 1,243 of 2,070 passes for 13,391 yards, with 59 touchdown passes and 65 interceptions, and a passer rating of 75.3. But Carr was the most-sacked quarterback in the league during his tenure with the Texans. Playing behind one of the league's most porous offensive lines, he was sacked a remarkable 249 times.

Carr started 75 games but recorded just a 22-53 record. Between bonuses and base salaries, the Texans paid Carr more than $35 million in five seasons. When they acquired Schaub, whom they immediately named the starter, they initially hoped to be able to trade Carr, but instead released him rather than prolong his time with the franchise.

I think signing Carr will turn out to be a good move for the Panthers. This guy can play QB and just did not have a great situation in Texas.

I look for Carr to show that he is a lot better than we have seen.

Steve Young was another good QB that was just in a bad sitaution (Tampa Bay, I think) and benefitted by ending up with some coaches that could develop both his game and get the peple around him to suit. End result = HOF! Carr may not end up there but I think he has potential to be one of the best in the game. He needed a change and now he is with a decent franchise I look for him to be a force - thankfully he did not end up in our division.

I don't understand how he can show us that he is a better then what he did with the Texans if he is on the bench. I think he is a darn good Qb. With the Texans he had a horrible o-line, I just don't understand why he chose the Panthers to be a backup.

Unfortunately I live just north of Charlotte so I get way too much Panther info (thank God for Sunday Ticket). The only mistake the Panthers made was saying Delhomme is the unchallenged starter. Jake may be the most overrated QB in football, at least this side of Romo. Steve Smith goes up and takes balls away from defenders that Jake just threw up for grabs. Smith can make any gunslinger look like a QB, but I think Carr is a REAL QB that was just in a screwed up offensive system.

LOSTHOG wrote:Unfortunately I live just north of Charlotte so I get way too much Panther info (thank God for Sunday Ticket). The only mistake the Panthers made was saying Delhomme is the unchallenged starter. Jake may be the most overrated QB in football, at least this side of Romo. Steve Smith goes up and takes balls away from defenders that Jake just threw up for grabs. Smith can make any gunslinger look like a QB, but I think Carr is a REAL QB that was just in a screwed up offensive system.

Fox job is on the line this year, I wouldn't be surprised if Carr were playing before mid-season

1niksder wrote:..Fox job is on the line this year, I wouldn't be surprised if Carr were playing before mid-season

Carr is a lot better QB than you saw playing - I have never had much faith in Delhomme - I agree with Redskin1 - I would not be surprised if Carr is not playing shortly - this kid has shown he has heart and I think he is going to be very good.

jeremyroyce wrote:I don't understand how he can show us that he is a better then what he did with the Texans if he is on the bench. I think he is a darn good Qb. With the Texans he had a horrible o-line, I just don't understand why he chose the Panthers to be a backup.

I think that is one of the reasons that he only went to Carolina and Seattle despite interest from some others - those are the 2 places he felt that he would have the best chance to play, and soon.

I actually like Carr. I think he will turn out to be a great one. I predict the Panthers to win there division this upcoming year.

Hard for me to believe the Raiders didn't go after Carr, draft Calvin Johnson and trade Moss for a 2nd rounder. Use both 2nd round picks on OL.

Their defense is good.

fredp45 wrote:Hard for me to believe the Raiders didn't go after Carr, draft Calvin Johnson and trade Moss for a 2nd rounder. Use both 2nd round picks on OL.

Their defense is good.

I agree with that. They might have saved themselves a lot of trouble by doing that. Maybe they really want Russell bad... who knows...

With that OL, Russell better be able to take a hit. You know Carr can.

I don't like going into a season with a rookie QB. Way too risky. Not that it won't work, but history shows it doesn't work out that often.

Carr was cut and free to go where he wanted - I do not think he wanted to go anywhere but to either Seattle or preferably Carolina - he was not really interested in just starting - he wanted a chance to start on a team with some very good playoff chances.

like I said, I think we are lucky he did not consider any teams in our division because I really think this guy is going to be very good.

SkinsJock wrote:

jeremyroyce wrote:I don't understand how he can show us that he is a better then what he did with the Texans if he is on the bench. I think he is a darn good Qb. With the Texans he had a horrible o-line, I just don't understand why he chose the Panthers to be a backup.

I think that is one of the reasons that he only went to Carolina and Seattle despite interest from some others - those are the 2 places he felt that he would have the best chance to play, and soon.

Well, the Panthers came right out and said that Carr will not be the started the starter is Jake. So, I just don't understand this decision that Carr made by going as a backup. There are a few teams in the league that NEED a starting Qb.

fredp45 wrote:Hard for me to believe the Raiders didn't go after Carr, draft Calvin Johnson and trade Moss for a 2nd rounder. Use both 2nd round picks on OL.

Their defense is good.

I completly agree with you.

There were a number of teams interested - I am not surprised that Carr only wanted his agent to check out the teams that he was interested in.

If you were a free agent QB would you want to go play for the Raiders or the Panthers? duh!

i like how they call Carr a star.. HAHHAHAHAHAHAH

if by star you mean NFL qb then yes

Pathers actually took Carr; he's not that good yet. I'm sure flamethrower is not happy.