Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr hopes last season's off-field drama is a thing of the past

HENDERSON, Nev. — After a season of turmoil, tragedy and an unlikely playoff berth, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said he hoped having to deal with such off-the-field issues were a thing of the past.

Especially with a new regime leading the organization under owner Mark Davis, from president Sandra Douglas Morgan to general manager Dave Ziegler to coach Josh McDaniels.

«I think we've had us a good amount of time since all of that went down,» Carr said Friday, in his first media availability of training camp.

«I told you, I couldn't even comprehend it at the time, I'm a human person — I didn't get a chance really to feel all of those emotions and after the season, one day it just hits you like, 'Wow, dang.' Moreso the life transformations for families and for life loss and careers that are done and all that stuff. The real-life part of it hits you because it was so, it happened, and we were right back here to play. There's so much in your mind, football-wise, that we didn't really get to comprehend it all.»

Jon Gruden's email controversy cost the former coach with the 10-year, $100 million contract his job when he resigned on Oct. 11. Less than a month later, on Nov. 2, receiver Henry Ruggs III was involved in a fiery high-speed car crash in Las Vegas that claimed the life of a young woman, Tina Tintor, and her dog. Ruggs was released by the team less than 24 hours later.

Later that week, fellow former first-round pick Damon Arnette was cut after the cornerback published video of him brandishing firearms and making death threats.

Carr said at the time he dreaded checking his phone upon waking up for fear of seeing more negative news.

Instead, the Raiders went on a four-game winning streak to end the season to