Las Vegas Raiders pass-rush maniac Maxx Crosby had a routine in the second half of last season where he would sit out practice during the week and be ready to play on Sundays despite dealing with a bad knee. Despite this, he still managed to play in all 17 games and put up career highs of 14 1/2 sacks and 90 tackles, finishing sixth in the league in sacks. Crosby focused on getting healthy after the season, and as the Raiders began their offseason program, he stated that his rehab had been incredible, feeling better than ever before.
Crosby’s work ethic is highly respected within the Raiders organization, with coach Antonio Pierce noting that he is on another level when it comes to commitment to improvement. During the offseason, Crosby remains in Las Vegas to work out at the team facilities, showing up at 6 a.m. each day. Pierce challenged Crosby to lead by example in encouraging more teammates to stay in town for offseason workouts, and about 30 players followed suit. Crosby believes that the team has the potential to achieve great things, but emphasizes that talent alone is not enough – hard work is necessary for success.
As a fan of combat sports, Crosby incorporated boxing into his offseason training regimen, even sparring with MMA bantamweight Dominick Cruz and attending UFC 300 in Las Vegas. He was particularly impressed by fighter Max Holloway’s attitude of not just winning, but proving himself to be the best in the game. Crosby sees parallels between Holloway’s mindset and his own approach to football, where he is focused on putting in the work and achieving success on the field. Despite the Raiders going 8-9 last season, Crosby believes in the potential of the roster but emphasizes that work must be put in to see results.
Crosby does not dwell on past events, such as the Kansas City Chiefs winning the Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium and a Chiefs player planting a flag on the field. He believes that focusing on other teams is a waste of time and energy, and expresses confidence that such actions would not happen on a Raider logo. Crosby is determined to lead by example and push his teammates to work hard and achieve their goals, emphasizing that success in football requires dedication and effort. As the Raiders look ahead to the upcoming season, Crosby is prepared to continue giving his all and hopes to see his team rise to new heights.
