Raiders All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby finds time for a Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: How would you characterize your mentality on the field?
A: I think that's my purest state. When I’m on the field, I’m a completely different person. …The king of the jungle, the attacking lion, however you want to call it, that’s my murderous side. There's no better feeling than being able to let out everything inside you and really hunt. It's a controlled mess and I do everything every day of the year, from meal prep to prepping to bodywork to training to film work, so I go out into the field and do what I was born to do. You do that and it rules all your time. The game I stepped into. I love it. I love you, that's not the right word. I live it every day. There's no better feeling.
Q: Which quarterbacks that you haven't fired yet would you like to fire?
A: There are a lot of quarterbacks. I've fired a lot of quarterbacks, and to be honest, the quarterbacks I play against that I haven't fired yet are the quarterbacks I want to fire. There are many on that list. I know there are a lot of young quarterbacks in this league, so I'm going to take them down one by one.
Q: Do you have a favorite sack in the NFL?
A: I feel like when I'm playing my best, I'm playing my best. [Patrick] lamar mahomes [Jackson]Josh Allen [Justin] Herbert, I like guys like that, especially in the fourth quarter, and that's when you make the real money. And if you can get a sack in the fourth quarter and end the game, there's nothing better than that.
Q: Did you fire Aaron Rodgers?
A: Yes, we fired Aaron Rodgers in his rookie year at Lambeau. [Field].
Q: How was that for you?
A: That was amazing. He got a sack against a great left tackle in the first quarter and belted it after the sack. Then I realized I had learned my lesson as a rookie. I was a young kid, so I didn't care and belted it out, and then he ended up throwing like four touchdowns.
Q: What do you think about him playing at age 40 after tearing his Achilles tendon last year?
A: That's wild. You have to give him credit for playing at this age (laughter) – which is crazy, but it's like he's 40 years old and playing with grown men. You have to show him nothing but respect. with him [Tom] Players who played with Brady for a long time [like] Peyton Manning, those are the guys who set the standard, and he's definitely one of them.
Q: Who has been your favorite pass rusher over the years?
A: When I was younger, Ndamukong Suh was my favorite pass rusher. I was a Lions fan growing up in Michigan. he was mean. He crossed the line a few times, but always kept pushing the line. This is a man who reigned at a high level. …Von Miller, who is a real close friend of mine, is like a brother to me and has inspired me in more ways than most people, looking at what he's accomplished in his career. It was given to me. The list goes on. … Same goes for JJ Watt, but when it comes to the style of play and the dominant run and pass, I think JJ Watt did it at the highest level. For me, I feel like what separates me from other players in the league is my ability to not only rush the passer at a high level, but also dominate the run game.
Q: What would you like to say to Giants fans about Jermaine Elemunor?
A: Jermaine is my guy! Love Jermaine. He's a good guy. Sure, we went after it. He's a good teammate. He has come a long way. We were fighting every day. I tried to embarrass him every day and he always fought back. I have to respect people like that. I've been here with him for three years I think. [Las] Vegas. He's doing great things and I wish him all the best.
Q: Do you like the nickname “Condor”?
A: (Laughs) Well, I definitely like that nickname.
Q: Do you remember a former Raider named Ted Hendricks?
A: “Stork”, of course.
Q: Are there any similarities between you and him?
A: They certainly have similar physiques. He's a long, lanky, crazy white guy. Well, there are a lot of similarities (lol).
Q: What drives you?
A: There are many things, but there are two that stand out to me the most. For me, it's working and I'm finding the best version of myself. Because I know I'm not even at my best yet and most people are thinking, “How can I get better?” I get that question all the time and I'm like, “I know I'm not at my best.” I have a lot to accomplish. You only get this once. and a daughter (Ella Rose) and wife (Rachel). My girls are my everything. My daughter is almost 2 years old. My wife and I have been together since our early days in Eastern Michigan. And I also have three dogs. I can't leave them alone either.
Q: Antonio Pierce's leadership style.
A: I think everything is just black and white. He is very clear about what He wants from us. Let's have fun. We're going to do our thing. We also work. We practice hard and pursue it every day, and he tells us that openly.
Q: What is it like to be an underwear (saxophone) model?
A: (laughs) It's different, to say the least. It's really funny, my brother (Miles) used to model for Calvin Klein. He still works at Ford and was the first in his family, so I guess I had to carry on the family tradition. In my personal opinion, this is the best underwear brand. The products are incredible and the people are great too. For me, I can wear it for any occasion, whether I'm working out, hanging out, or attending a wedding, and it's perfectly scripted. I think it's a no-brainer because overall it is.
Q: There are 3 guests for dinner.
A: Kobe Bryant. Muhammad Ali. michael jordan. I had those three guys tattoo me, so I'm going to go with those three, I guess.
Q: It's under “Be Legendary” on the chest, right?
A: 100%. They are definitely my biggest influence when it comes to mindset, approach and killer instinct.
Q: Favorite movie.
A: “Goodfellas,'' “The Irishman,'' “A Bronx Tale,'' and “Scarface.''
Q: Who is your favorite actor?
A: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, Denzel [Washington].
Q: Who is your favorite actress?
A: Margot Robbie.
Q: Favorite singer, rapper, or entertainer.
A: The future.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: This is a restaurant called Babe's Chicken, and they only serve chicken fried steak, chicken, and sides. So I think it's chicken fried steak with gravy, creamed corn, biscuits and gravy, and mashed potatoes. It's like the best meal on earth. Located in Roanoke, Texas. It seems that he is about 100 years old.
Q: I have been sober for over 4 years now. How proud are you of yourself?
A: Very much so. I'm not one to pat myself on the back. I am upfront about my goals and what I want to achieve. But I had a really hard time congratulating myself on things like that. My wife always gets mad at me about it, but I have to say that I am proud of myself. I am always looking for the best version of myself on and off the field. 5 years of sobriety will soon begin.If I hadn't calmed down and come clean, I wouldn't be in the position I'm in now. There are many people who can praise me, but I must praise myself first. Because there was no one else who could make me sober. And I had to look at myself in the mirror and make a lot of changes, and I did that, and I'm still looking for the best version of myself. I'm far from perfect, but I focus on improving overall every day. So, I can certainly say that I'm very proud of myself.
Q: What was your darkest moment?
A: There were a lot of dark moments. I can't point to anything specific, but I just couldn't recognize myself in the mirror. That was probably the darkest moment. I had no control over my life. There was complete chaos and confusion all the time, and it was overwhelming. I was the only one trying to change that. There were a lot of people who helped me, and I've tried to help a lot of people, and I've been around people who tried to help others, but some of us… About 5% to 10%. It actually stays clean. The only way to do that is to do the work and do it every day. Every day is a new battle. Every day new things are thrown at me, especially when you're in my position…you have money, you have a lot of influence, and a lot of things work out for me, but… With it comes a lot of darkness too. People will come looking for you. The standards I set for myself as a player were always under the microscope and going through those difficult times shaped me to be able to handle what I was going through. I love it. I love adversity, I love being doubted, I love being told I can't do something. Because I'm going to do everything in my power to prove those people wrong and the people who believe in me wrong. right.
Q: What do you want your legacy to be?
A: I want to be the best ever. That's what I want. I want to leave a lasting legacy. People who changed the game and people who influenced the game at the highest level. You talk about the D-end position and how the game should be played, but I want people to talk about me from that perspective…the way I don't get off the field, the way I finish games, It throws off the game plan and instills fear in the opponent. That's how I want to be remembered.
