NFL Network Analyst Steve Mariucci and Quarterback Derek Carr
Former NFL Head Coach and NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci was on the field in Napa, Calif., Friday at Raiders' Training Camp to observe the team and witness their first day of practice. He spoke to Raiders.com during his time in Napa, sharing his thoughts on quarterback Derek Carr and how far the team has come.
Here are some of the best quotes from his interview:
**Steve Mariucci has a good relationship with quarterback Derek Carr and thinks he has the tools to be a great player in the NFL.
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"So proud of Derek because of not only what he does on the field, but who he is. He's a great husband and a great father. He's great off the field, he's great for any community, he's grounded, he's a tough guy, he's got it all, he's got it. So, the sky is the limit with Derek Carr as a quarterback, which means sky's the limit for this football team."
Raiders' fans have waited a long time for a winning team and Mariucci believes that General Manager Reggie McKenzie has built a roster to be excited about.
"It's been a long time since the Raiders have had their winning ways, since the last Super Bowl, 2002. Reggie, who's very well prepared to do this job, is starting to hit on those draft choices and bring in the free agents that are necessary and put it all together with some good chemistry. I love the hire in Jack Del Rio, with his staff too…The Raiders are on the uptick, there's no doubt about it with this young team. So, stay healthy, keep getting better each day in practice, each week during the season, and this team has a chance."
With former quarterback Ken Stabler being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Mariucci felt compelled to share John Madden's thoughts on Stabler.
"John told me that, that Ken Stabler was the most accurate passer he's ever seen. Now John Madden has seen everybody, I think John Madden was watching Jim Thorpe when he was a kid… We all know how much he [Stabler] won, and that's what you pay quarterbacks to do, is to win football games. So, it's just another Raider in the hall, and a very well deserving Raider."
