When Maxx Crosby first entered the NFL as a fourth-round draft pick out of Eastern Michigan, he was just trying to survive training camp with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The high-motor defensive end had no guarantees of making the team, and, at one point, he was convinced that head coach Jon Gruden was ready to cut him.
Or at least, that’s how he understood it…
During his rookie training camp, he instinctively batted down passes at the line of scrimmage during live drills.
However, Gruden wasn’t thrilled – not because Crosby was making plays, but because the coach was focused on fine-tuning the offense.
According to Crosby, after he knocked down several passes, Gruden told him he was going to cut him.
Fast forward, and Gruden – now working with Barstool Sports – finally had the chance to set the record straight.
“I am gonna clarify this to everybody,” Gruden began. “Our tackles, our offensive linemen were not allowed to cut the defensive linemen below the legs in quick protection (in training camp).
“So I told the D-line since we were not going to block low, not to jump up and bat balls down.”
“But you didn’t listen,” Gruden told Crosby. “You jumped up and batted nine balls down in one practice.”
A guilty-looking Crosby responded with a laugh: “I can’t help myself.”
Gruden continued: “Finally, I said, ‘If you bat one more ball down, I am gonna cut your ass. Meaning, we were gonna cut your legs out.”
However, Crosby genuinely thought he was on the verge of being released.
“For five years I legitimately thought you were going to cut me on the field,” he admitted.
Needless to say, Crosby never got cut. Instead, he has blossomed into one of the league’s top defensive players.
In six seasons with the Raiders, he has earned four Pro Bowl selections and solidified himself as the heart of Las Vegas’ defense.
Looking back, what Crosby once believed was a career-threatening moment was actually just a misunderstanding.
Speaking of Crosby, what are your expectations for him and the Raiders going forward?
As for Gruden, do you think we’ll ever see him back on the sidelines again???
