Maxx Crosby seems to have some unresolved feelings toward Cam Newton, and it appears he’s not planning to resolve them through private messages.
While appearing on “Deflected” with Shedeur Sanders, the quarterback for the Browns, Crosby was directly asked about any NFL players he might have an issue with. Without skipping a beat, he mentioned Newton.
“I have a beef with my guy, Cam Newton,” Crosby said. “We need to talk. He really upset me. I’m not going to lie about that. I like Cam, which is why it frustrated me.”
It seems that it wasn’t just Newton’s critiques that irked Crosby. He also expressed that Newton’s public comments starkly contrasted with the friendly interactions they’ve shared in the past.
“Every time I run into Cam, it’s all love and respect. But then I saw him saying some things online that were pretty wild,” Crosby explained. “Then a couple of weeks later, he slid into my DMs saying, ‘Hey bro, what’s up?’”
Crosby didn’t reach out in response.
“I can’t pretend to be cool right now,” Crosby stated. “There’s a level of respect, especially considering I’ve played against him. But we definitely need to talk when I see him.”
Crosby didn’t clarify which comments he found problematic. However, Newton has publicly questioned him on a couple of occasions.
The first instance was back in October 2025 when the Cowboys were rumored to be interested in acquiring Crosby. On ESPN’s “First Take,” Newton suggested Crosby’s loyalty to the Raiders might be hindering his chances at winning.
“Understand this—Maxx Crosby has made it clear that he wants to win,” Newton said. “But honestly, he’s not going to win in Vegas.”
Newton pointed out that Crosby had a chance to join a team that might compete for the playoffs and questioned why he would stick with the struggling Raiders.
The second incident arose after trade discussions involving Crosby and the Ravens fell through. Initially, the Ravens had agreed to trade two first-round picks to Las Vegas, but they backed out after Crosby’s physical exam. The player, who was recovering from meniscus surgery, expressed his fury over the situation.
Newton, however, offered a different perspective. “Every trade still depends on passing a physical, right?” he posed. “That team didn’t owe you anything, not even a meeting with the owner or the coaching staff.”
He pointed out that this is just a tough reality of professional football, comparing Crosby’s situation to those of players struggling to secure a spot on rosters, including his own brother.
“What you experienced, Maxx Crosby, is what most NFL players go through, unfortunately,” Newton added.
He remarked that established players often become accustomed to receiving “presidential treatment.”
It’s unclear which of Newton’s comments might have triggered Crosby’s feelings of anger, or if it was something else entirely. Crosby hasn’t pinpointed exactly what the conflict is about.
Given their competitive history, the comment about respect seems to carry some weight. In their only NFL matchup, Crosby managed to sack Newton twice, even though Newton’s Patriots won 36-20 against the Raiders in 2020.
Crosby still refers to Newton as “my guy.” Nevertheless, when they next meet, it’s likely to be a far less cordial encounter than before.
