LAS VEGAS — Well, the shoe everyone was expecting finally did drop when the news broke Friday.
Max Crosby is no longer a member of the Las Vegas Raiders.
The five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher will become a player for the Baltimore Ravens after the Raiders traded Crosby for two first-round picks. The Ravens don’t appear to be serious about the player, as the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles are rumored to be among Crosby’s most interested suitors. But they are willing to meet the Raiders’ offer, which will become official in a few days.
How I feel? This is true for both parties. Crosby didn’t win in Las Vegas. Maybe he’ll get a chance to experience the playoffs in Baltimore and maybe even play in the Super Bowl. The Raiders got a good shot at a player who was originally a fourth-round pick and developed into an elite player in the NFL.
It was never going to end well, and the Raiders shelved Crosby with two weeks left in the regular season despite being injured for much of the year. This results in hurt, blame, and resentment toward the organization from a person who exemplifies a predator. At least that’s what the previous examples were.
Regardless, he has another new coach to play for. So instead of Clint Kubiak in Vegas, it’s Jesse Minter in Baltimore.
So general manager John Spytek was tasked with trying to revive a franchise that was on the brink of bankruptcy, and he did the right and prudent thing. He left his best players in hopes of acquiring enough assets to help the Raiders moving forward.
Football, like all professional sports, is a ruthless business. Star players were moved, fans felt betrayed, and the team tried to win after the fact. Oh my god, one of the greatest players in hockey history, Wayne Gretzky, was traded.
Of course, the Raiders could have kept Crosby and tried to continue placing players around him and hope it worked out. But here’s the reality – Crosby, as good as he was when healthy, which is the key word, couldn’t stay healthy. He battles injuries nearly every year. The latest came when he ended up having knee surgery after the Raiders kept him out the final two games in what turned into a disastrous 3-14 season.
Cynics will tell you that this helped the Raiders tank, ensuring they got the No. 1 pick. Of course, if that’s the case, why were they able to beat the Chiefs in the final week of the season?
They were still struggling for Pete Carroll, who lost his job the next day. There’s still an air of pride in the locker room.
Yes, despite the win over Kansas City, the math still favors the Raiders. Now, Spytek stands at GM’s blackboard, trying to figure out a formula for success.
On the other hand, some will make a case for Spytek, arguing that the Raiders aren’t winning with Crosby, and that getting two first-round picks and the No. 1 pick could ultimately help the Raiders succeed long-term. Of course, that’s assuming whoever they ultimately choose works out. We won’t know this for a few years.
For Raider Nation, who had an affair with Crosby from the beginning, that wasn’t easy to swallow. This is completely understandable. No. 98 is their man. His nonstop drive gives fans something to believe in and a reason to come to games when the rest of the team isn’t performing well.
So I get it. That’s the opposite of Geno Smith, who was also told to find another team to play for after the Raiders decided not to bring back a quarterback to help mentor Fernando Mendoza, the franchise’s quarterback of the future. Smith infuriated fans not only with his erratic, frustrating performance but also with his failure to connect with them. When you turn down people who help pay your salary, it’s a surefire way to become public enemy number one.
So Spitek, Kubriak, Mark Davis and Tom Brady are betting that they will get it right, that they will eventually turn the Raiders around, and that the pain of leaving Crosby will eventually dissipate among the fan base. Winning will do that. My hope for Crosby is that he can get healthy, stay that way, and experience playoff football on a regular basis in Baltimore.
