JACKSON: Carr Embodied New Orleans in Opener

By Ross Jackson

There are a lot of words with which the people of New Orleans will identify.

Resilient. Familial. Determined.

Every New Orleans sports fan has a common thread as well. Petty. From the days of former head coach Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints fans have embraced the label of petty. And maybe, just maybe a little attitude from the present Saints roster is already going a long way with fans.

It’s funny. Sometimes you set out to do one thing in an attempt to endear yourself to a person, or in quarterback Derek Carr’s case, a community. But then it turns out that it was actually another action that created the desired effect.

On an 8-yard scramble during the teams Week 1 thumping of the Carolina Panthers, Carr decided that instead of sliding or getting out of bounds to avoid contact that he would instead lower his shoulder into a defender. Taking a page out of tight end Taysom Hill’s book, Carr dropped his shoulder and barreled into Panthers safety Xavier Woods. 

Carr is not typically the type of scrambler that would do such a thing, but he had a very important reason that he took the risk in Week 1. And head coach Dennis Allen had a very important message for him after the play. Especially after it ended up being a negative impact thanks to an unnecessary roughness penalty that was called after his was ruled down.

“We’re just trying to show our city how much this means to us,” Carr said during his post-game media availability. “And I was told not to lower my shoulder anymore because of that. I was just trying to show my teammates, our city, or organization that I’ll do whatever it takes for us. But (Allen) cussed me out and said, ‘Don’t do that again.’”

Allen was understandably concerned at that moment. You never want to lose the most important player on the field at quarterback because they are trying to prove something. But at the same time, one has to respect Carr’s fervent desire to show the fans that he will do what it takes. So while that moment might have gotten him in trouble on the sidelines, it may have resonated in the stands.

However, a different moment may have resonated more. Later that same quarter, Carr ran a quarterback sneak up the middle on a third-and-2 play that ended up easily picking up five yards. As the quarterback stood up out of the pile, he playfully threw out a little flex. Well, it turns out that Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn (son of former Saints wideout Joe Horn) took exception to that.

“What are you talking about? I got three touchdowns on you” 💀 pic.twitter.com/ddmaxMup3I

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) September 9, 2024

In Carr and Horn’s exchange, Carr appears to say something along the lines of “What are you talking about? I’ve got three touchdowns on you.” while holding up three fingers in his direction before swiftly turning around and walking away. Carr clearly got the best of that interaction.

The best part of it all is that the fanbase has responded to lip readers reposting the video with positive sentiments around Carr on social media. The quarterback achieved what he set out to do. He endeared himself to the fan base, and he did it in a way that truly resonates with the city. He showed resilience in lowering his shoulder, but then amplified it by showing a bit of an attitude of determination. 

And being a little petty.