The hype surrounding Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is palpable and warranted heading into his third NFL campaign.
Raiders receiver Michael Crabtree called Carr a "gunslinger" in the mold of Hall of Famer Brett Favre last month.
Speaking with Comcast SportsNet Bay Area's Amy Gutierrez on Wednesday, Favre had a different take.
"I don't know if I consider him a gunslinger," Favre said. "I think he's a little more polished. And I mean that with all due respect. I think he's done a tremendous job in Oakland. I like the way he plays. I think he's a little more polished. I like to watch him. A good player."
Carr is a microcosm of the optimism swelling in Oakland. The 25-year-old quarterback flashed brilliance at times last season, but also stumbled a bit down the stretch. With a beefed up offensive line and reliable receiver targets, he's a prime candidate to make big strides in Year 3.
Oakland has a tremendous chance to leap into the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. For that to happen, Carr will need to prove he can be a consistent difference maker for 16 games.
