After reports popped up on Tuesday that Maxx Crosby was a player a few teams were targeting ahead of the trade deadline, it only took the Raiders (or someone within the organization) an hour or two to put out the message that their star pass rusher isn’t being traded.
Not everyone is buying the idea that Crosby is untouchable, but based on a series of reports in the last 48 hours, it seems like the Raiders’ decision on Crosby might be coming from the very top.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported this week that Raiders’ owner Mark Davis has a “deep affection” for Crosby and while Davis said the future of Geno Smtih is up to the head coach and GM, he had a different tone addressing Crosby.
“I don’t know how many times I’ve got to say it,” Davis said to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo at league meetings this week. “It’s really hard to keep getting asked the same question every month or week or whatever when the answer’s going to stay the same. I don’t know why anybody would think I’d change my mind or the organization would.”
After talking with Davis this week, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini made a statement you don’t often hear from league insiders.
Instead of saying the Raiders aren’t “expected” to trade Crosby or “aren’t shopping” him, Russini flat-out said a trade isn’t happening.
“The Raiders are not trading Maxx Crosby,” Russini wrote this week in a column at The Athletic.
That’s no small statement because league insiders tend to carefully craft their words. They rarely slam the door shut in situations like these. Russinni left her encounter with Davis convinced the Raiders’ All Pro pass rusher isn’t going anywhere.
Could that change? Sure.
But every indication right now is that Davis is the driving force behind the Raiders unwillingness to trade Crosby.
Unlike Tom Brady and John Spytek, Davis was around when the Raiders traded Khalil Mack. He saw first hard how hard it is to replace a great pass rusher.
It could be that Brady and Spytek have no interest in trading Crosby (it would be interesting to know), but even if they did, there have been some pretty strong indications in the last few days (both in reports and murmurings behind the scenes) that Davis wouldn’t sign off on another deal that sends his best player to different team.
x: @raidersbeat
Good Job Mark… hate to see you Run out of Town while tarred and feathered!!! Let’s Start Winning Again!!!
Last week Mark said he hires people to do their jobs. Now he interferes with personnel decisions. Not shocked he can’t keep his lies straight
Well currently he isn’t much of a pass rusher. This idiot Coaching Staff is dropping into zone or having him Spy. Carroll is a fucking idiot.
Giving more picks for this administration to eff up isn’t the answer unless it’s bigger than the H.Walker deal. Multiple 1sts,2nds,3rds,4ths, and a slew of 5ths-7ths and multiple younger players. Now the coaching staff deciding to drop Maxx into coverage multiple times a game is asinine. He’s a premier pass rusher and Pete’s telling him don’t do that all the time. A simple decision that this coaching staff has and they eff it up.
I been a die hard RAIDER fan for over 30 years if trade Crosby it will a big mistake I won and lose with them every year with them so I know how the players feel don’t trade Crosby because u will loose fans over it and I would be one of them SO KEEP CROBY
I mean, it wouldn’t have been THAT hard to replace Mack in the 2019 draft. They just chose the wrong guy and drafted him too high. Hines-Allen and Brian Burns both would have been good picks, if not HOFers like Mack should be. Incidentally, they did find a replacement for Mack in that draft. Crosby in the 4th round.
I love Maxx Crosby, but there’s no reason he should be untouchable. And it’s another example where Davis says he doesn’t interfere, except when he does.
8 playoff appearances in 40 years. One common denominator. The Davis family. Can we trade them ?