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Maxx Crosby is back with the Las Vegas Raiders after a week we can politely call “eventful.” He finally provided his own account of the sequence Tuesday.
Speaking on his “The Rush” podcast a week after the Baltimore Ravens nixed his trade, Crosby went through the experience of nearly joining the AFC North contenders only to be told their doctors were concerned about the results of his physical.
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He did not hide the mark the journey left on him:
“I’ve gone through some s*** in my life, I can’t lie, but that whole situation was probably one of the most unique, crazy, wild, up-and-down roller coasters I’ve ever been a part of.”
The process began with Crosby traveling from Las Vegas to Baltimore with his family to join his new team. However, he had some issues with the accommodations on the way there:
“They flew me to DC, because there wasn’t many flights — we flew first class — they flew me to DC because it was the only straight-through and we had to drive two hours from DC all the way to Baltimore after the five-hour flight, bro. That s*** was weak.”
These meetings usually consist of a meet-and-greet with the team’s brass and a physical to confirm nothing is wrong with the player, then the official signing of contracts. Where it got weird, however, is that neither Ravens head coach Jesse Minter nor Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta met with Crosby for the first five hours of the meeting.
Once Crosby did step in the room with Minter, with DeCosta in the next room, he sensed something was wrong. Minter then gave him the bad news:
“You could just tell the energy was off. I dapped him up, he had a blank face. And I’m like, ‘OK.’ I’m not thinking anything of it. Maybe he’s just different. I don’t know him, whatever.
“I go into the room, they sit me down on the couch and he’s like, ‘Man, I don’t know how to say this, but one of our doctors has concerns with the results, with your knee. Some of them are concerned about the future. … We really want you and this is what it is, but we’re going to have to get more and more opinions.’”
Maxx Crosby thought he was going to be a Raven. (AP Photo/John McCoy)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Crosby said he was stunned by the news and immediately started worrying about the state of his knee, which received a meniscus repair from Dr. Neil ElAttrache earlier this offseason. That knee had been the topic of contention already, as the Raiders shut Crosby down against his wishes over concerns about the joint, leading to him wanting the trade in the first place.
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He eventually got ElAttrache on the phone, who took him through his MRI results and assured him nothing was wrong:
‘He calmed me way down. He’s like Maxx, don’t listen to any of that s***.’ He’s like, ‘Your knee is great. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be or even ahead of schedule.’ He’s like, ‘You’re doing everything right. They know you had your surgery nine weeks ago.’
“He’s showing me the actual literal literature of, like, ‘This is where the knee is supposed to be at from a meniscus repair. MRIs could be misleading because it’s still fresh in surgery and this and that.’ He’s like, ‘Listen, you’re doing everything right. Everything’s going well. We’re going to keep sticking to the plan.’ He’s like, ‘You will be back by training camp.’”
There were surely talks happening between the Ravens and Raiders at that point, with the Ravens likely trying to negotiate a lower price due to their concerns. At one point, a member of the Ravens allegedly called Crosby to tell him the trade was still happening, only for the opposite to be confirmed minutes later:
“One of the Ravens guys called me and he’s like,’ Yo, we’re trying to figure this out. We’re going to get this done. Don’t worry.’ Like five minutes later, CJ Calls me, he’s like, ‘They’re backing out.’ I’m frozen, I’m like, ‘Holy s***, what the f***?’ I’m livid, confused, the whole nine, all in one.”
On the bright side, Cropsby said the Ravens did spring for a private jet for the journey back.
The turn of events leaves Crosby back with the Raiders, while the Ravens signed Trey Hendrickson, the top pass-rusher on the free-agent market for a price lower than Crosby’s contract. DeCosta insisted last week the team was actually trying to acquire both Crosby and Hendrickson.
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Crosby indicated last week he is no longer trying to leave the Raiders, and made his intentions very clear Tuesday:
“S*** happens for a reason. I know exactly who I am. I’m healthy. I’m f***in’ crushing my rehab. I’m doing what I’m doing. I wasn’t supposed to be in Baltimore and that’s it. You know what I mean? I’m meant to be a Raider. It’s through my damn core. That’s it.
“I’m in this s*** for life. Until that changes — which I don’t foresee. Honestly, you never know in this damn league. I found that out for sure. I just feel like I’m meant to be a Raider.”
