With the NFL regular season winding down, the Las Vegas Raiders find themselves sitting in the AFC West basement with a horrendous 2-9 record.
Despite the brutal season, star pass rusher Maxx Crosby has made it clear that he is not on board with the notion of the team deliberately losing games to secure a top draft pick.
“If we’re not playing to win, then what are we doing? I don’t play to get a better pick,” Crosby stated firmly.
Crosby has in many ways become the face of the Raiders organization.
You could make a strong argument that there’s not a single player in the entire league that plays as hard as Crosby. 110% on every snap no matter what’s the score. You have to love that.
When trade rumors were swirling earlier this season, Crosby went out of his way to affirm his loyalty to the Raiders.
Based on his attitude, performance and undying loyalty, Crosby is everything you want in a captain and leader.
His comments regarding the idea of “tanking” underlines his commitment to competing at the highest level, regardless of the team’s position in the standings.
The veteran defender has recorded 39 tackles and six-and-a-half sacks this season, a dip by his usual standards but still reflective of his high-caliber play.
Over his career, Crosby has amassed 360 tackles and 58.5 sacks, cementing his reputation as one of the premier pass rushers in the NFL.
Crosby has been vocal about his frustration with the team’s inability to foster a “winning culture,” a sentiment that resonates with many Raiders fans.
The organization’s performance this year has raised questions about its long-term direction.
No matter how hard Crosby and Vegas try to win the rest of the season, the Raiders will likely finish with an extremely high draft pick.
Many fans feel it’s a virtual lock that the Raiders will draft Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders – even if they have to trade up to do so.
Regardless of possible draft position, we all know there’s absolutely nothing Crosby and head coach Antonio Pierce would love more than to beat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Black Friday.
You can throw records out the window when these two rivals meet.
Also, let’s not forget, the Raiders were the ones who ruined Christmas for Mahomes and company last season.
If Crosby has his way, the Chiefs will once again be leaving Arrowhead Stadium with a frown come Friday.
What are your thoughts on Crosby’s comments? … Should Raiders fans be rooting for the team to tank???
(If so, don’t you dare tell Madd Maxx that.)
