3 & Out - Derek Carr talks Max Crosby's future, Derek's return to the league, NFL Franchise tags.

We’re kicking off with Derek Carr, who might be unretiring, then I’ll hit the day’s tag news and the Max Crosby chatter; let’s dive in, DC—live from Fresno and feeling good?

Life’s been great, man—I coached my kids all season, did golf runs with them one-on-one, and watched one son sling it with zero fear while the older one turned into a big, physical receiver who shrugs off doubles.

I loaded up our youth offense with real concepts disguised as superhero calls, taught them simple coverage tells, and they went from barely scoring to one of the league’s top point teams.

Walk us through the retirement—injury, rehab, and how it ended in New Orleans.

When I started throwing last spring, I couldn’t push it 15 yards, so I chose a shot and long rehab over surgery and wasn’t truly right until December.

Mickey Loomis wanted me back, but I wouldn’t take reps or money while not ready, so I retired to avoid hurting the team; a couple clubs called in-season, and I still wasn’t there.

You’re fully healthy now, and the comeback buzz is loud—what’s real?

I’m 100 percent and would return for the right contender; three or four teams are serious, I’ve ramped up the throwing, and I’m taking it day by day until the fit is right.

Are you chasing one last moment for the legacy or the kids?

I don’t need football to feel complete, but I do miss the locker room and would love to compete and mentor a young QB if the situation’s special.

On the Raiders—Max Crosby bleeds silver and black like you did; how should this play out?

He’s the building’s alpha—motor, production, and leadership in one—and I told him he’d carry the mantle when I left; if you move him, you strip the team’s heartbeat, so I hope they don’t, even if business gets cold.

Take me back to Khalil Mack getting dealt right before the season.

It crushed me first as a friend, then hit as a business reality tied to the Oakland-to-Vegas move; I thought we’d structure deals to keep him, and it still stings how fast everything flipped.

Did Gruden address the room or just move on?

Jon was transparent with me and the team, and I’d have done anything with my contract to keep Khalil; sometimes there’s just no saving it.

Your broken-ankle game had you riding shotgun on the cart—why the front seat?

That old Coliseum ramp was so steep and the cart so weak they worried I’d slide out of the back, so I sat up front and got shoulder-pad taps from fans in the parking lot while my ankle dangled; it was my hardest on-field moment, with every future question hitting me at once.

Help us understand the Josh McDaniels gap: elite coordinator, but the head-coach turn went sideways.

One-on-one he’s brilliant and his call sheet is sharp, but we jumped straight into the deep end of a complex system and paired it with a hard pivot to a Patriot-style culture that didn’t fit our locker room; with another year we might’ve cooked, but relationship-based coaching like Gruden’s tough love travels further.

Did you get a softer, wiser Gruden than the old stories?

Totally—still demanding, but more relational, and nobody holds a room like him; we still talk all the time.

Give us a read on Kubiak and that Shanahan tree offense.

They’re great people with a clear standard and a simple, cohesive scheme, and if the Raiders let this staff draft and develop to the system instead of resetting every cycle, it can last a long time.

Our mutual friend said it’s the easiest to learn compared to the Pats-style volume.

Exactly—young quarterbacks play faster in it, and I expect the presumed top pick to settle quickly, the way Spencer Rattler processed and got it out on time.

Tahoe time—you’ve posted some low numbers; is winning the American Century a real goal?

A thousand percent—par each day in Stableford keeps you in it, birdies are the juice, and the 17th and 18th by the lake are pure magic, bears and all.

Whether you unretire or keep stacking dad time, it’s been awesome—Go Dogs and we’ll hang soon.

Get a Bulldog on that wall and we’re square—Go Dogs, brother.

Post-show, the line moved to the Bears for Max Crosby, and a DJ Moore package could sweeten it, but today’s abrupt center retirement rattles Chicago’s plans and may cool a huge swing while they rework the line and budget.

Franchise tags were light; I can see holding Kyle Pitts while a new staff evaluates, but tagging a running back like Breece Hall feels avoidable with earlier extensions, and the Colts’ transition tag on Daniel Jones at a big number with an Achilles recovery shows how cornered a team can get.

Kyler getting cut looks like a veteran-minimum landing while Arizona eats money, Trey Hendrickson hits the market after last year’s ordeal, and it’s another reminder how fast value swings in this league.

No hard signals yet on AJ Brown or Max Crosby trades, and teams are weighing proven stars against cheap rookie deals; if news pops, we’ll pounce.