Maxx Crosby ‘Was Terrified’ About Failed Ravens Physical, Opens Up About Raiders Trade Drama

Las Vegas Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby revealed his perspective on what went down with the failed trade that would’ve sent him to the Baltimore Ravens.

The Raiders had agreed to send Crosby to the Ravens for a package that included two first-round draft picks, but Baltimore backed out on the deal over medical concerns following Crosby’s physical.

On a new episode of The Rush with Maxx Crosby (19-minute mark) that premiered on Tuesday, the five-time Pro Bowler explained why he was “terrified” after hearing about the issues that arose from his physical, and he gave a detailed account of the drama that resulted in his return to Las Vegas.

“A couple hours, maybe an hour in, or an hour and a half in to go get MRIs and x-rays and all that s–t,” Crosby said. “So, I went to, they drove me, like, 10, 15 minutes down the street. I had to go do all these tests, and just things that I’ve had in my career. You know, I had my labrum done before, I had my knee, I had my ankle, I had my, you know, all the hand, all type of s–t. So they had to do all those scans again or whatever, just make sure everything was good. So I’m doing all these scans they took forever. They took a really long time. And so I was… You know, this is the thing, bro. Like, I don’t, everyone’s got their own theory, conspiracy theory, no one really will ever admit on either side what the real truth is or whatever. And ultimately, it doesn’t even matter. I am where I’m supposed to be. I know that. I’ll just say that.

“And this is the only thing, like, I went there. did my thing, had my MRIs, like, I didn’t, like, I was asking Joe, like, Yo, like, can I, like, before I left, I wanted to see the head coach, just chop it up, talk football, talk ball. Like he’s a defensive guy. Never met before like that. So I wanted to chop it up. So I didn’t get to meet with him till the end of the day. I didn’t get to see the GM at all. I thought I was gonna see him when I first got there. I didn’t see him for five hours. So, he didn’t come out. And I don’t know why. I am not gonna speculate. I didn’t see him one time. I even asked the girl, I was like, ‘Where’s Eric [DeCosta]?’ You know what I mean? He just made the trade, like, I didn’t see him.

Crosby then explained what transpired when the Ravens raised concerns with the health of his surgically repaired knee.

“So, I go and do my thing. At the end, they’re like, yeah, I’ll take you up. Joe was like, I’ll take you up, you go see the head coach, whatever, just before you leave. I was like, hell yeah. So, I guess, you know, I want to say what’s up to him. I went back up, and I dapped them up, and they could just tell, like, the energy was a little bit off, and the GM was standing in the hall, like, in the room next to me to the right.

“And that was the first time I seen him. Like, I’m so excited, like, fired up, you know what I mean? Like, this is new opportunity, whatever. And you need to just tell the energy was off. I dapped him up, he had, like, a blank face. And I’m like… ‘Okay,’ I’m not thinking anything of it, maybe it’s just different. I don’t know. I go into the room, they sit me down on the couch, and he’s like, ‘Man, I don’t know how to say this, but, you know, one of our doctors has concerns with, you know, with the results or whatever, and, like, with your knee, like, some of them have, you know, are concerned about the future, da, da, da, da, and, um, you know, we really want you, and this is what it is, but, you know, we’re just gonna have to get more and more opinions.’

“And I was like, the first thought in my head, like, I was terrified, because I’m thinking in my head, like, what the f–k? Like, I just had Neal, Neal ElAttrache, best f–king surgeon in the country, like, the best of the best, he’s done all my surgeries. For the most part, like, that’s my guy. Like, I’d go to his house. Like, that’s my dude. Like, he’s the best. So, I haven’t even gotten to talk to him or I haven’t gotten to talk to [my agent] C.J. So it just kind of hit me. I’m like, ‘What the f–k? Is there something wrong?’ Like, I’m freaking out. Like, low key and deep down. I’m like, ‘I can’t get another surgery. This is f–ked up.’ So I’m f–king, like, ‘What is going on, bro?'”

Crosby underwent surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus. His agent, CJ LaBoy, released a statement after the failed trade with the Ravens saying that the 28-year-old “remains on track to return during the offseason program [and] will undoubtedly return as the dominant game wrecker he has been these past [seven] seasons.”

After the nixed deal with Baltimore, Crosby affirmed his commitment to Las Vegas, though the team could still explore deals for him as next month’s draft draws nearer. Still, it sounds like he’s content to stick with the Raiders for the foreseeable future.