The Las Vegas Raiders ripped off a serious band-aid heading into Week 17 when they decided to shut down defensive end Maxx Crosby for the rest of the season. Many banged-up veterans wouldn’t mind taking extra time off amid a season playing for the NFL’s worst team, but not Crosby.
When the Raiders informed him of the news, he made the decision to leave the team facility and was not on the sideline for the home game against the New York Giants. There is now plenty of speculation that he’s going to ask for a trade this offseason.
Former Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce had a very strong relationship with Crosby during his tenure with the team. He shared his opinion of the decision to sit the star defensive end.
“I don’t care what anybody says. You pay all that money in Vegas to go see Maxx Crosby. To see Brock Bowers. You don’t want to see the backups. You want to see those guys,” Pierce said on CBS Sports’ “NFL Today.”
“And the thing that’s interesting, Maxx Crosby, I believe, the last six or seven games, has played in every, every game, every snap. I was with Maxx for three years, and I understand the pain, the effort, the sweat, the blood, the tears that he puts into that organization. And I know it hurt him to be sat down, and that’s why he probably went home and said, ‘You know what? I need to breathe.’”
Pierce Admits Raiders Made Right Decision
While Pierce can empathize with Crosby as a competitor, there is also the fact that with the Raiders’ loss to the Giants, they now control the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pierce’s co-host Kyle Long said that the Raiders were right for shutting down Crosby, and the former coach agreed with that sentiment from the perspective of the team.
“Yeah, for the organization, but as a player you are paid to play 18 games,” Pierce said. “Yeah, I need a quarterback.”
Now, the Raiders likely would’ve lost to the Giants even if Crosby played, but it’s not like he’s fully healthy right now. He’s going to need offseason surgery on his knee. If the Raiders manage to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18, the lowest they can fall is to No. 2 in the draft order.
Pete Carroll Updates Crosby Situation
Though Crosby needed a few days away from the team to cool off, he returned to the Raiders’ facility on Monday, according to head coach Pete Carroll. The coach also believes that he’s on the same page with Crosby now.
“We’re doing great,” Carroll told reporters Monday. “We’re eye-to-eye on what’s going on.”
Crosby isn’t likely to make any rash decisions right now. The Raiders might not even have the same head coach next season, so he might want to see how all of that plays out. He may be upset that he can’t play the final games of the season, but the Raiders are now in a position to potentially add a franchise quarterback, which could be what finally turns the team around.
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