It's been difficult for Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby to shake off this season's loss.
In this week's conversation SiriusXM's “Let's Go!” Podcast The three-time Pro Bowler, who joins Jim Gray and Peter King, expanded on his thinking amid a disappointing season that saw the Raiders sit at 2-10 with five games remaining.
“Obviously, I'm competitive when they come. I put all of my time and effort and mind and soul into being the best version of myself,” Crosby, 27, said. Transcription by NFL.com.
“I care about winning more than anything else on earth. Yeah, there were times during the season where I felt like I was losing my mind. I really had to reset.”
The 2024 Raiders finished September with a 2-2 record, but Las Vegas is currently on an eight-game slump and the losses are piling up.
The most recent loss came on Friday, a 19-17 loss to the Chiefs that ended in a momentary blunder early on that cost Las Vegas a chance at an upset.
Crosby has been with the team since 2019, when he was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, and was at the center of trade talk before this fall's deadline.
Speculation had been mounting over Crosby's future in Las Vegas, but Raiders owner Mark Davis put an end to the rumors in late October. Email ESPN“We're not trading Maxx Crosby. Before or after the trade deadline!!!”
Amidst the adversity that plagued the Raiders in a full year under head coach Antonio Pierce, Crosby believes it is his duty to play a steady role as the team's leader.
He has 7.5 sacks in 11 games.
“The best version of me is being the best version of myself, not just a great player, but a great leader and a force of positivity,” Crosby said, according to NFL.com.
“Because now I can sit back and be negative and be like everyone else in the world. …If I live in that, I’m just like everyone else and I’m different from everyone else. I feel like I'm here for a reason, but I could fall into that trap and be part of the crowd, or I could be the leader. It's a choice. And of course. [the losing] I'm sorry, but I'm going to try to be the best version of myself every day from now on. ”
Although officially eliminated from playoff contention, the Raiders have a chance to finish the season on a strong note starting Sunday against the Buccaneers in Tampa.
However, Las Vegas is currently tied with the Giants and Jaguars for the NFL's worst record and the No. 1 pick that comes with it.
