Maxx Crosby Says Everyone Is Wrong About Nixed Raiders-ravens Trade: 'i Know The Truth'

HENDERSON, NV – When it was over, after the Baltimore Ravens flunked Maxx Crosby on their physical in early March to nullify what appeared to be a blockbuster trade and sent him back on a cross-country flight, the Las Vegas Raiders star edge rusher did what could be aptly described as a "Maxx Crosby thing."

“I didn’t go home. No, I came straight here,” Crosby told USA TODAY Sports, reflecting in an outdoor tent at the Raiders headquarters following the first full-squad training camp practice this week. “I didn’t even change or nothing.”

That it was somewhere around 4 a.m., well, that’s the Maxx thing. No time for a pity party.

Instead, it was time for another workout.

“(Shoot), I got back from Baltimore, it wasn’t supposed to happen. Obviously,” Crosby continued. “They flew me back immediately. It was 4:30 in the morning. I came right back into the building. They looked at me like I was a snake-animal.

“It was, ‘What the (heck) is Bigfoot doing walking back in here?’ I mean, it was just another day.”

'Just a different cat'

Crosby, 28, has proven so much since emerging as a fourth-round pick from Eastern Michigan in 2019 to become one of the NFL’s best players. There are many layers to this. He proudly declares, as he should, that he’s been sober for more than six years after battling alcohol addiction that included a stint in rehab.

His body art – images, including tattoos of his oldest daughter, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, cover him from his neck to his torso – tells another story about his commitment and a pivotal moment. A few years ago, after shoulder and hand surgeries, five artists took 36 hours to paint the tattoos during marathon back-to-back sessions.

His motor is special, too. It says something that of his 69 ½ career sacks, 22 ½ of them came in the fourth quarter. And it said something else about how Crosby is wired when he bolted from Raiders' headquarters in anger in December when he was told the team would shut him down for the final two games because of the knee injury.

He wanted to play.

Then there’s the rep he’s burnished in the Raiders' sphere for his early calls. That’s one of the first things they mention when describing the five-time Pro Bowler. He comes to work early.

“Maxx is one of one,” Raiders owner Mark Davis told USA TODAY Sports, overseeing yet another franchise reboot that includes the arrival of quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick overall.

“Playing-wise, culture-wise, everything else. He’s just a different cat. You can’t beat him in the building. He’s here at 4 in morning, in the weight room.”

How do you know he’s really here at 4?

“Fernando told me,” Davis shot back. “Fernando got here at about 4:30 and Maxx was already here.”

Maxx Crosby's reaction to failed Ravens-Raiders trade

After the trade fell apart – Baltimore was supposed to exchange two first-round picks for Crosby, but the deal wouldn't have been official until the new league year commenced and was contingent on him passing the physical as he rehabbed from surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee – Crosby refused to see himself as a victim.

The Ravens, who could have used Crosby’s impact for a defense that has developed a pattern in recent years for blowing leads in crunch time, quickly pivoted to signing former Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, 31, to a four-year, $112 million free agent deal.

Hendrickson, by the way, was recovering from core muscle surgery after missing half of last season due to a hip injury.

“I know they were doing what they thought was best for them,” Crosby said. “That’s fine. You don’t want me. Make you look crazy. It’s OK.”

There’s no issue from Davis, even though the Raiders could have acquired two first-round picks from the deal.

"You know how much I had to pay (Steve) Bisciotti to send him back?” Davis said, tongue-in-cheek, referring to the Ravens owner. “I never wanted him to go in the first place.”

That first day back, Crosby made the rounds with a message. He said he visited with Davis, GM John Spytek, coach Klint Kubiak, coordinator Rob Leonard and defensive line coach Travis Smith.

“I went to every single office, one by one, and told them, ‘I’m here. Let’s go,” he said. “That’s how I operate. I don’t live and dwell on b.s.”

What really happened

Crosby, who achieved his rehab goal and was medically cleared to fully participate in training camp drills – he reported early, of course, coming with the rookies – maintains there are some elements from his experience in Baltimore that have not been publicly revealed. At the time, an emotional Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said during a news conference that he was “gutted” by the decision to pull out of the trade but did not elaborate on many details.

Although Crosby was rehabbing from his surgery in January – his surgeon, Neal ElAttrache, told ESPN that he expected any apparent future risk would lessen as Crosby continued to recover – the Ravens reportedly were concerned with long-term risks.

“I don’t get into details on that because, you know, it’s a business,” Crosby said. “People, to this day, have no idea of what happened. Not one person has been right. And I just got to sit here and listen to all the (b.s). And that’s the part about being a man. I can sit here and be like everybody else. Spill everything. You know what I mean? I think being quiet is peaceful. I don’t want to be like anybody else. I don’t want to have any drama in my life. I like my life very simple. My girls are my world. My football is my world.

“I know the truth,” he added. “Everybody that was involved knows what really transpired. I’ve moved forward. I don’t dwell on (stuff). That’s the one thing about me I try to inspire all the people in my circle, and my teammates. Stop worrying about yesterday. Stop thinking about tomorrow. If you just master where you’re at, like truly being present, you’re going to have better results.”

The trade that almost happened-but-didn’t may ultimately turn out as a huge win for the Raiders, seeking to re-establish culture with a new regime. There’s no question that Crosby, who has thrived despite one losing season after another, has some extra fuel. As he put it during his post-practice press conference on Wednesday, “It’s just added points and given me a little more reason to go out there and whoop a--.”

Maxx Crosby Cowboys trade rumors

Still, Crosby’s case continues to ignite intrigue. On Tuesday, when Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said during his camp-opening press conference that he would be willing to give up a top draft pick for an impact player who could help his team win big now, it inspired a round of speculation that Crosby should be that target.

More: Cowboys expect defense to be 'significantly improved' under Christian Parker

So, that’s how the first day of full-squad training camp practice began for Crosby, with TV sports shows – hello, First Take – debating his future. After all, the Raiders demonstrated that they would part with their centerpiece player for the right price.

You’d think it’s another type of challenge for Crosby to deal with the outside noise.

“It doesn’t change anything for me, to be honest,” he insisted. “People act like they don’t…if you’re an athlete in this position, you see everything. Regardless, if you want to or not. You can try to live in a cage, but then your teammate is coming up to you, ‘How do you deal with it?’

“I’m getting rehab, the first thing this morning, and all my teammates are looking at it and I’m trying to ignore it. But ultimately, you just have to learn to roll with the punches. I’ve gone through a lot in my personal life, a lot in my football life. So, (stuff) like that is nothing. If the child version of me was looking at Stephen A. Smith talking about, ‘Is this dude the guy to come win you a Super Bowl?’ like I think that’s cool. Whether it’s made up or not. They wouldn’t be talking about you if you weren’t doing something right. And I know what I bring to the table as a player, and as a leader, and as a worker. I want to be here. Everyone knows that. So, you can’t let any of that (stuff) get into your head or let it distract you.”

In the meantime, the Maxx Crosby watch rolls on – in more ways than one.

Follow Bell on X: @JarrettBell

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maxx Crosby says everyone is wrong about nixed Raiders-Ravens trade: 'I know the truth'