Brett Favre Praises Raiders QB Derek Carr After ‘Gunslinger’ Comments

Earlier this offseason, Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree made a strong statement regarding his quarterback, Derek Carr, comparing him to soon-to-be-inducted Hall of Famer Brett Favre and calling him a “gunslinger.”

Brett Favre Praises Raiders QB Derek Carr After ‘Gunslinger’ Comments

“He is always going to be a gunslinger and I love that,” Crabtree said of Carr. “That’s the old Brett Favre-type of quarterback, but really managing Brett Favre. Brett Favre is one of the greatest players to ever play.”

Favre, a former Green Bay Packers quarterback, didn’t seem to agree, and discussed his opinion of Crabtree’s comments on NFL Network on Thursday.

“I don’t think I’d call him a gunslinger,” said Favre, 46, of Carr. “I think he’s a little bit more polished, with all due respect. I think he’s done a tremendous job with Oakland and I like the way he plays. But again I think he’s little bit more polished as I would say. But I like to watch him. Good player.”

The hosts of the show added that they suspect Favre meant the 25-year-old QB was more polished than he was at the same point in his career.

However, Favre, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, added that Carr is “more advanced” after two seasons than he was at that stage in his career.

Carr, whose admiration of Favre is why he wears No. 4, had a breakout season last year while helping the Raiders go from three wins in 2014 to seven victories in 2015. He threw for 3,270 yards with 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as a rookie, but greatly improved on those numbers in his second season, throwing for 3,987 yards with 32 touchdowns and 13 picks in 2015.

Unlike Favre, Carr seemed flattered by Crabtree’s comments, especially because Carr admire Favre and thus wears his same number (No. 4).

“I was very honored. Very thankful,” said Carr. “Brett is somebody I looked up to as a kid. The way he played the game, so I wore number four ever since I could remember. I always wanted to wear four, somehow some way. For him to say that it was really cool because I don’t think I’ve told him that. But for him to come out and say that made me think ‘do I take too many chances?’ (laughs).”

Carr then continued: “But I think the wide receivers like that. They know that no matter what I’m gonna give them a chance. It doesn’t matter if you drop a ball, it doesn’t matter if I just sailed one eight rows deep, I’m gonna throw the next one just as confident and give you just as much of a chance. If that’s what he sees, I’m very thankful and honored, but I have a long way to go until I’m compared to Brett.”

Both Carr and Favre were second-round picks. But while Carr started immediately as a rookie, Favre played sparingly for the Atlanta Falcons in 1991. Following a trade to the Packers, Favre became Green Bay’s starter after an injury to Don Majkowski in Week 3 of the 1992 season. Favre threw for 3,227 yards and 18 touchdowns to 13 interceptions that season, but followed it up with a 19-touchdown, 24-interception year in his second season as a starter.

Before playing with Oakland, Carr played collegiately at Fresno State. Although he shows promise, the young QB still has a long way to go to tie Favre’s 71,838 passing yards and 508 touchdowns.

KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 3: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders throws a pass at Arrowhead Stadium during the fourth quarter of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on January 3, 2016 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)