Maxx Crosbywas always earnest in the devotion he expressed for his beloved Raiders.
And if he truly had it his way, he would have spent his entire career in silver and black, triumphantly hoisted a Lombardi Trophy or two and cemented his legacy as one of the all-time greats while playing every down of his career with the same franchise that drafted him.
But for all of Crosby’s superpowers, he didn’t have a magic wand capable of fixing the Raiders’ problems over the years.
The constant coaching and regime changes. The numerous whiffs on draft night that sabotaged multiple rebuilds. All those incomplete rosters. The Raiders’ uncanny ability for all-field drama.
Every year, it seemed, it was something.
No matter how much Crosby loved being a Raider — and no one represented the shield with as much passion as he did — it was probably inevitable that his longing to play on football’s biggest stages would eventually supersede his determination to remain with the franchise he proudly represented.
With Crosby soon turning 29 years old and the Raiders facing yet another rebuild, that time finally arrived. Unable to stomach the latest organizational reset and burning to play in important games in December and beyond, Crosby let it be known he wanted to play for a team that offered a more immediate chance to win.
The Raiders, sensing the opportunity to gather significant assets to expedite their rebuild, obliged by trading Crosby to the Ravens for two first-round picks over the next two years, including the 14th pick overall in next month’s draft.
It will take years to figure out who won Friday’s blockbuster trade, but on the surface, it has a chance to be a win-win for everyone involved. The key, of course, will be how well the Ravens maximize one of the NFL’s true game-wreckers and how the Raiders use the assets they got in return.
Here is a look at it from all sides:
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
