After Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs, it was no surprise that Maxx Crosby’s name popped up in trade rumors this week, and that storyline will be one to follow up to the NFL’s November 4 trade deadline.
A few hours after the trade rumors started gaining steam on Tuesday, an NFL Network report indicated the Raiders have met with Crosby and he is not going to be traded. Additionally, the report said Crosby does not want to be traded.
Safe to say, the Raiders wanted to quiet the noise around Crosby for the next two weeks, but NBC’s Mike Florio isn’t necessarily buying the message the Raiders are putting out.
“NFL media reported last night that the Raiders told Crosby, we’re not shopping you and we won’t be trading you. And also they reported that Crosby wants to stay. I don’t know that I believe the last part.” Florio said on PFT Live on Wednesday.
“I think he’s stuck, and he got paid and you know, if they’re not going to trade him, it’s not it’s not useful for him to start making it known he doesn’t want to be there,” Florio continued. “I still don’t believe that Crosby falls into that category of untouchable players. And I think a sufficient offer would potentially get their attention.”
“We’ve seen this before. We know how it goes. You don’t get maximum value for a player if you tell the world we want to trade the player. You have to be coy. You have to create a market. You have to maximize through negotiation what you get. That’s what we’re thinking. I’m thinking it’s possible. I’m not saying it will happen. I just don’t believe the denial. I don’t think he’s an untouchable player.”
It might be a long shot that Crosby will be traded, but there is no fan base in the NFL more aware of how quickly unpopular trades can come together – particularly when it involves an All-Pro pass rusher.
It’s also no secret that Crosby’s contract was structured in a way that allows for the sides to part ways relatively easily. That didn’t happen by coincidence.
Just 10 months ago, Crosby sounded like a player who was ready to find a new team, so it might be naive to assume he isn’t experiencing some of the same frustrations he brought up on Christmas Eve.
Crosby is the face of the Raiders’ organization, and it would be a gutsy move by Tom Brady and GM John Spytek to trade him. But if the organization is a few years away from being competitive again… would a trade be the best move for everyone involved?
x: @raidersbeat
Most rebuilding teams follow logic and trade their assets when undergoing a rebuild. There are two compelling reasons for trading Crosby:1- He will be out of his prime once the rebuilding is complete, and 2- He is starting to show wear and tear, missing time with injuries. But, then again, the Raiders are perennial losers for a reason! The team is in dire need of a winning Owner.
A winning owner will be visiting Toronto tomorrow night.
Of course I’d rather see the Fertitas, we’d be their sole focus