The public relationship between Kellen Moore and Derek Carr got off to a rocky start. The first public mention of Carr was a noncommittal answer on his future with the New Orleans Saints. This was before the Saints drafted Tyler Shough and even before rumbles around the Saints interest in rookie quarterbacks.
The Saints committed to Carr when they restructured his contract. That felt like an organizational move, but there was always a sense Moore wanted his own guy. The appearance of a lack of relationship or buy in wasn't just fan speculation. There was no relationship privately either.
Moore revealed to reporters he and Carr never met in person this offseason. This is a cherry on top of the fiasco that surrounded Carr. Normally, a new head coach and the projected starting quarterback are one of the first meetings. However, there has been nothing normal about the Saints offseason.
Carr was in New Orleans for a brief time while meeting with the team doctors. This would have been a perfect time to meet, but Moore wasn’t available. “I just missed him because we were doing some pro days. So we missed that one time," Moore said.
Circumstances out of their control that kept the two apart on those occasions, but people that important to the team have to meet in-person. The fact they didn't is another sign Carr was never going to suit up for New Orleans again. Otherwise, they would have made it happen.
Despite not meeting in person, Moore did say there had been "really good communication" between the team and Carr.
It appears that the two may have had a fractured relationship, but they respected each other and were willing to work it out. It sounds like there was clear communication and Carr worked with the team to figure out the best option for them. The two may not have gotten along, but Carr retiring ended up helping them both.