Derek Carr has no intention of getting into a war of words with Michael Thomas after the former New Orleans Saints wide receiver launched another blistering attack on the quarterback on Sunday.
Thomas took to social media after Chris Olave was injured during the Saints’ 23-22 defeat to the Carolina Panthers, blaming Carr for the pass that led to him sustaining the fourth concussion of his career following a hit by Xavier Woods.
Olave left the field on a cart but later tweeted to say he would be okay.
That did not stop Thomas, who was released by the Saints in March after eight seasons, from again criticising Carr on social media, suggesting he “needs his ass whooped”. He also wrote: “They [the Saints] fired all them coaches trying to cover his flaws up he still doing the same s***.”
Dude tried to lie and say I was jealous of them making Chris WR1 whole time he can’t even get him a decent ball. He need his ass whooped
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) November 3, 2024
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Calm Carr
Asked about Thomas’ remarks, Carr said: “I’ve had so many teammates over the years and he’s like the one dude that didn’t get along with me. And I don’t know what I did to him. I don’t know why he feels that way. I’m sorry for whatever he’s dealing with to make him feel like he’s got to do that.
”I don’t know. But he’s never called me during any of this. My phone number has never changed. I’ve in fact called him on different occasions. Just to try. And sometimes you can try as hard as you want and it just doesn’t work out.
“And that’s OK, so I don’t know why he feels any type of way. I didn’t see it. I won’t see it. Because I always ignore everything, good and bad. I try to ignore everything. It’s unfortunate. Especially coming from a player like that. But I wish him the best. I hope he gets on a team and does what he wants to do and loves it.”
Carr rubbishes notion of deliberately trying to set Olave up for hit
On the suggestion the pass – a high ball across the middle of the field – was liable to cause injury to the receiver, Carr added: “It’s just something I would never do to a teammate. Because it was single high, the ball went to where we talked about it going and Chris got hit in the head unfortunately.
“That happens in our game, and I would never do it on purpose. I didn’t throw him into a bad look. When it comes to the football aspect of it, I really don’t have an answer for it. But when it comes to the person part of it, I just hope he [Thomas] gets what he’s looking for.
“[If] what he’s looking for is to put blame on me that I got Chris Olave hurt, he can put blame on me. It’s not going to change my day.
“I have a pit in my stomach any time one of my teammates goes down because I love them that much. No matter if I like them or not. And I happen to love Chris Olave. We have a great relationship, so any time that happens I feel sick to my stomach and I hate – hate, and I don’t use that word a lot – but I hate moments like that.”
More misery for Saints
New Orleans’ defeat means they have now lost seven straight games after starting the season with back-to-back wins.
Carr looked rusty after missing three weeks with an oblique injury, finishing 18-0f-31 for 236 yards.
The Saints host the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday.
