The Raiders’ 2-10 season has been a colossal disappointment for one of the most passionate fan bases in the NFL, but no one has taken the losses harder than the most invested player in the organization.
Maxx Crosby put his life on the line for the Raiders last year, but this year has offered a different set of challenges for the All-Pro pass rusher.
Crosby talked about the Raiders’ frustrating start to the season on the SiriusXM NFL Radio Let’s Go! Podcast and was open about the toll it has taken on him.
“I’m competitive as they come. I put all my time, and effort, and spirit and soul into this… into being the best version of myself,” Crosby said. “I care about winning more than anything on the planet. So, yeah, there were points in the season where I feel like I was losing my mind. I had to really reset.”
“The best version of me is not just being a great player but a great leader and being the best version of myself, bringing positivity,” he said. “Because I can sit around and be negative and be like everybody else in the world right now… If I live in that, I’m just like everybody else and I’m not like everybody else. I feel like I’m here for a reason, and I could fall into that trap and be part of the crowd or I can be a leader. And that’s what I choose to be. It’s a choice. And of course, [the losing] sucks, but I’m going to be the best version of me every single day going forward.”
It’s been a year for the Raiders where just about everything that could go wrong, has gone wrong.
They have dealt with significant injuries, fired three offensive coaches, and the situation around Davante Adams sucked the life out of the team all the way back to the start of the season.
No one in the locker room is going to say it, but the drama around Adams was a distraction long before it became a matter of public knowledge. High profile players don’t often quit on teams to the level Adams pulled it off this year.
For his part, Crosby has been adamant that he is committed to the organization, and as many Raider fans can relate… sometimes that commitment can take a toll on your mental health.
x: @raidersbeat
This article failed to point out that Crosby wrongly used his team influence, by threatening to force a trade unless AP was retained as HC. So basically, he made his bed and now is laying in it! Hopefully he’s learned not to be a prima Donna and let the team brass make the HC decisions. He’s a great player, but mustn’t let his head get too big.
Just get rid of Maxx Crosby and Wilson and get new Defensive Tackles and lineman start a new year and players.