NFL superstar Maxx Crosby expressed optimism about the future in his first comments after his trade to the Baltimore Ravens was abruptly nixed.
“Everything Happens For A Reason. Believe Nothing You Hear & Half Of What You See. Im A Raider. I’m Back. Run That Sh*t,” Crosby, 28, wrote via X on Wednesday, March 11.
The saga involving Crosby started on Friday, March 6, when Crosby was traded from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Ravens for two first-round picks.
However, the Raiders suddenly announced the deal was off on Tuesday, March 10.
“The Baltimore Ravens have backed out of our trade agreement with Maxx Crosby,” the team revealed via social media. “We will have no further comment at this time.”
Shortly after, The Athletic reported that the trade fell apart over Crosby’s “failed physical.”
Crosby underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee in January. The five-time Pro Bowl defensive end just recently stopped using crutches, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday that Baltimore determined the trade for Crosby was too perilous.
“The Ravens needed to bet the house on Maxx Crosby,” Rapoport said on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football. “After the medical exams, after getting in there, after doing all the work that they had — they had preliminary work — [but] yesterday afternoon was the real work. They did not believe the risk was worth it, so the deal was off.”
However, Crosby’s inner circle attempted to paint a different picture.
“Maxx continues to be on track in his recovery and if anything is ahead of schedule according to his surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache,” Crosby’s agent, CJ LaBoy, posted via X on Tuesday. “Maxx remains on track to return during the offseason program & will undoubtedly return as the dominant game wrecker he has been these past 7 seasons.”
Dr. ElAttrache, who performed Crosby’s surgery in January, even entered the discussion.
“We truly respect the work of the Ravens staff with Maxx regarding the contract physical exam,” Dr. ElAttrache told ESPN on Wednesday. “We also understand the challenge the staff faces when tasked to provide a future risk assessment based on an evaluation early in the recovery process. This is especially challenging when dealing with an elite player like Maxx considering the level of commitment necessary for a team to obtain him. The timing of this assessment is unfortunate because the apparent risk will lessen as his recovery progresses and his return to performance over the next few months becomes clear.”
After backing out of the Crosby deal, the Ravens signed former Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract on Wednesday.
Crosby, meanwhile, is expected to stay put in Las Vegas next season.
“He’s focused on rehab, he’s focused on getting back from a fully-torn meniscus,” Rapoport said Thursday, March 12, on Good Morning Football. “He has, in his mind, decided that he is a Raider.”
