Maxx Crosby refuses to feed rumors that he wants to leave Las Vegas.
Talking to Jim Gray about “Let’s Go!” Podcast, Crosby said he won’t “throw gasoline on the fire” as reports of his interest in leaving Vegas mount.
“My focus has been on getting healthy because that’s all I can control right now,” Crosby said. “That’s all that matters to me is being with my daughters and being with my wife and taking care of myself. People are going to have rumors.
“I just looked at my phone – I’ve been working all morning. Everyone’s hitting me, ‘Did you just say that?’ in a way.”
While it’s certainly not an “I’ll always be a Raider” statement, there is room for reconciliation in Crosby’s response. Not that the five-time Pro Bowler cares how anyone reads his reaction.
“For me, I know what I’m talking about. I know what I represent,” he said. “I really don’t care what everybody has to say. I used to be a lot as a young guy. I don’t care. People can have their opinions. I know what’s going on. I know my truth. And I don’t have to sit here and keep repeating it to people who don’t know what’s going on. So I don’t waste time on that.”
Crosby’s future in Vegas is in doubt after the star shortstop — who signed a $106.5 million contract extension last March — was frustrated with how the organization shut him down to close out the regular season.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that due to Cosby’s surgery, resolution on his future may take some time.
In seven seasons, Crosby has played in one playoff game – the loss to Cincinnati in 2021. This postseason was the only time in Crosby’s career that the Riders were over .500. In the last two campaigns combined, they have won seven games and lost 27.
When Gray was asked bluntly what he wants, Crosby said playing important games is his priority, but noted he also wants space to focus solely on football, not all the distractions that come with losing.
“I have many goals but I want to win,” he said. “That’s all that matters in the end, but I want to be in a place where mentally I’m 100 percent myself. I just want to focus on football. That’s really what I want. People who know me know that I’m about work and football. I just want to play football and be left alone. Period. And the people who don’t know what the f– can’t say … Honestly, I don’t give a damn (expletive) besides playing football and winning football games I give my whole life to this sport every single day.
“I’m here every morning. My alarm goes off at 4:55 and I drive 35 minutes across town to an empty, dark building, doing the same thing every single day, trying to help my team, trying to help me. People can talk all they want. People go on Twitter. I don’t even see the half of it (expletive). Like I said, I don’t care about playing football.”
Until a decision is made, Crosby’s status will hover over the offseason. Players of his caliber can have season-changing consequences if he is moved to a contender. A trade could provide Vegas with the windfall needed to help plug numerous holes on the roster. However, it is unlikely that any player added would have the same impact as Crosby, especially in the short term.
New coach Klint Kubiak expressed a desire to keep the All-Star in Vegas. Maybe the new Super Bowl-winning coach can convince Crosby that the Raiders can be turned around quickly. Barring that, Crosby will take the Matthew Stafford route, as a star player on a perennial loser who is finally sick of rebuilding and forcing his way out.