Peyton Manning shares expectations for Derek Carr in New Orleans

Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning shared some advice for New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr during Friday’s 28th annual Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

Manning, who spent 13 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts before finishing his career with the Denver Broncos, discussed the dynamic of walking into a new locker room after a lengthy tenure with one organization. Carr will do the same in 2023, following a nine-season stint with the Las Vegas Raiders. Manning said it’s up to Carr to “earn the respect” of his new teammates.

“You gotta come in and earn the respect of your new teammates,” Manning said. “You can’t go off of what you did at your previous team. It’s a start over… Quarterback should be the hardest worker in the building and you can’t just come in barking orders just because you’re the quarterback. You gotta earn that role as a leader. I know Derek will do that because like I said, he loves ball and he’s all in 100%.

“That won’t take long, but I think that’s important because [just] because you played a long time and you played somewhere else doesn’t mean that you’ve earned that right somewhere else. I know that was my approach to Denver, and then I think you kind of know when it’s time to ‘Hey, I can speak up.’ For me, even when I got to Denver, I just didn’t say a whole lot early [on]. I was just there to work, let guys know I’m here for ya, and then in September when we voted on captains, I was voted an offensive captain. That told me ‘Hey, maybe I have earned their respect and I can be more of a vocal leader.'”

Derek Carr prepping for 1st season with New Orleans Saints

Carr, 32, inked a four-year, $150 million contract ($60 million fully guaranteed) with the Saints this offseason following his release from the Raiders. Carr, a second-round selection in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Fresno State, ended his time with Las Vegas as the franchise’s all-time leading passer.

In nine seasons, Carr threw for 35,222 yards with 217 touchdowns and 99 interceptions on 64.6% passing. In 15 games this season, he threw for 3,522 with 24 touchdowns and 14 interceptions on 60.8% passing.

Manning believes that Carr and the Saints are a “good marriage.”

“He loves the game,” Manning said, via Fletcher Mackel of WDSU NBC New Orleans. “I was just pumped when he signed here [in New Orleans], reached out to him, connected him with my dad, and answered some questions about New Orleans. It’s a great pickup for the Saints. I get excited for these quarterbacks when they have a chance for a second chapter. It can be rejuvenating for him. He gave the Raiders everything he had, but obviously, he and [Saints head coach] Dennis [Allen] go back, and I think it’s a good marriage.”

The Bengal Tiger’s Shea Dixon contributed to this article.