Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby has launched a fresh critique of the franchise's controversial decision to sideline him for their final two regular-season games, emphatically stating that a relentless drive to win sits at the very heart of his sporting ethos.
A Principle Compromised
The star player expressed his clear dissatisfaction after being shut down for last Sunday's crucial defeat to the New York Giants, a loss that proved pivotal in the battle for the coveted No. 1 overall draft pick. This result means the Raiders now hold the top selection heading into this weekend's regular-season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs, another match Crosby will watch from the sidelines.
Head coach Pete Carroll initially explained the 28-year-old's absence by citing a significant knee injury that 'looks too bad'. However, Crosby appeared to directly challenge that assessment by posting social media footage over the weekend showing him energetically playing basketball and bouncing on a trampoline with his young daughter.
Behind the Scenes Spat and Surgery Revelation
It subsequently emerged that Crosby had walked out of the team's training facility following a disagreement over the handling of his injury, having reportedly been 'fighting' to be allowed to play against the Giants. The Instagram posts, uploaded hours after the Raiders confirmed his season was over, were widely interpreted as a pointed dig at the team's leadership, which includes new minority owner Tom Brady.
Further compounding the situation, it was later revealed that Crosby is indeed expected to require surgery after being placed on season-ending injured reserve. This came after Carroll disclosed the defensive end has been battling the knee issue since mid-October.
'All In' Philosophy and an Uncertain Future
As he faces missing the Week 18 finale, Crosby used an appearance on Jim Gray's 'Let's Go' podcast to underscore his competitive philosophy. 'When it comes to football, there’s certain things that I truly believe in,' Crosby stated. 'And I feel like there’s core principles that you gotta live by... from my perspective, is you play to win. You play for your teammates, you put everything you have into the game, no matter what it is.'
He elaborated on his all-or-nothing approach, adding: 'I never wanna look back and say I wish I would’ve, or I should’ve, done this. I’m all in, and I’ve been all in since day one.' Despite the very public airing of grievances, Coach Carroll has moved to downplay any lasting rift, claiming he agrees '1,000 percent' with Crosby's passionate reaction and that they reached the 'right conclusion' together.
The episode casts a shadow of uncertainty over Crosby's future in Las Vegas, despite him signing a massive three-year, $106.5million contract extension just last March and being recognised as one of the league's premier defensive talents. Whether this public disagreement signifies a deeper fracture between player and franchise remains to be seen.
