Welcome Back Maxx
As you know, I kinda hit my breaking point with the Raiders this past season.
Despite my best efforts, this organization, and Mark Davis in particular, has trained me to be cynical.
Could it get worse? Today, Mark Davis said, "Hold my beer."
We went on a spending spree before the money was in the bank. Does that sound like a well managed organization?
You might ask, how could this happen.
Those of us who have been paying attention know exactly how.
And so it goes on. It's gonna get real interesting now that Maxx is technically back in the fold.
Fire away!
posted by Raider Take at 6:58 PM
39 Comments:
Yes, the Raiders may have spent money they didn't have but, in their defense, there was good reason to believe it was there. I'm calling foul on the Ravens for knowing exactly what Maxx Crosby's medical condition was when they agreed to terms, then reneging. Does anyone believe Crosby wasn't ahead of schedule with his rehab? Where's the medical proof Crosby's surgery went wrong somehow?
Could the Ravens be getting even with the Raiders for Linderbaum? They lost their HC and their pro-bowl center. Maybe they got scared they're not ready to compete with those two forces leaving. They are entering a honeymoon period at HC.
Either way, I think this still works out for the Raiders. Of course this could strap the team financially. Keeping $16.6M of Geno Smith's salary seemed stupid, and now it hurts.
But other teams will still want Maxx. Send him to the Rams. They have the #13 pick and are real contenders. Plus, they have Davante Adams. Or how about the Cowboys? They have the #12 pick. Take their #1 and #2 this year.
This can still work. IMO, this falls on the Ravens. If the Raiders somehow keep Crosby, that could be very interesting.
I think it been shown that they can keep Maxx and keep adding pieces, they had that much cap room, they may not have taken one on the DE’s but if we get Maxx back and put a legit chip on his shoulder with this supporting cast, could be really fun to watch
Aussie Raider
NYR, and Aussie, I agree with both takes. You can't expect the Raiders to sit around while all the free agents they want are scooped up by other teams.
The Raiders can't wait while the Ravens dither about what to do. The Ravens got cold feet, and went weak in their knees. Not the Raiders fault.
Message to the Ravens...You aint getting a player as good as Maxx with that 14th pick, dummies ! And neither were the Raiders !
I expressed concern that the Raiders were spending too much too fast, but it also seems there's usually a way to work around cap space. Maybe the Raiders could keep Crosby and sign ALL of their free agent choices. If I'm Maxx Crosby, I'd rather go to work every morning at the International Health Performance Center and play at the Death Star than whatever facilities the Ravens have. If that happens, Raiders can get a WR with the #33 pick instead of the #14 pick.
It's f'd up but maybe the Raiders (and fans!) get their cake and eat it too.
In an amazing coincidence, the Ravens are signing Trey Hendrickson for about the same money as Crosby, but they get to keep their draft picks. Gee, isn't that convenient. It seems the Ravens pulled a fast one on this BS move. Sucks for the Bengals who lose their star Edge player to a division team. Henderickson is also coming off injury, so maybe the Ravens docs don't clear him either.
Meanwhile, SI reports the Raiders plan to honor all their pending FA agreements from Monday as well as trades made... subject to physicals for those players.
Clearly, Monday was a big day for the Raiders to improve their roster. Getting Crosby back could be the icing on that cake... or they will make another deal.
WTF, just crazy. Baltimore is sleazy on this one. I assume Raiders have lost leverage, in any trade scenario. I have mixed feelings given Maxx wanted out, I wonder if he can have a change of heart. Sandy
Reports are that Crosby is ready to play for the Raiders. He's intent on showing the Ravens they f-d up by not keeping him. That would be good news for us.
Whether or not he wanted the trade, he's a class act and will play at superstar level on whatever team he plays for.
It's been a busy week!
For anyone who thinks Mendoza needs time to develop before being thrown out there, the Raiders can take a flyer on Kyler Murray for $1.3M. The Cards are paying the rest.
IMO, Mendoza will be ready. He's better, IMO, than Carr, and Carr was fantastic his rookie year. Mendoza has been called a microprocessor. He's smart and accurate.
To my point, the Raiders haven't exactly beat the street for a vet to come in. Pickett was allowed to fly, and Geno Smith got booted out. Raiders are paying him $16.6M to play for the Jets.
Mendoza and AOC... and I'm liking it.
Reports are the Ravens had Hendrickson and his agent in the building negotiating, while Maxx was doing his "physical." I hope NFL steps in and rules they operated in bad faith and revoke the 2 First Round picks they committed to the trade.
With that said,I am glad Maxx is back! Raiders can keep him inspite of the monies spent on Free Agents, it just changes there strategy a little. And if you don't think Maxx will explode this next season, think again.
The report I read said the Ravens were on the phone with Hendrickson's agent while Crosby was still in the building, probably meaning they immediately pivoted after realizing the medical report wasn't what they expected.
But what bothers me most about this is Mike Florio spun it from reports that Ravens pulled a fast one on the Raiders to Raiders pulled a fast one on the Ravens, suggesting the Raiders maybe knew about Crosby's below par medical report before they made the deal. What an A-hole.
Crosby had surgery. Everybody knew he was rehabbing. At a minimum, Ravens should have to prove what their doctors are reporting that wasn't already known. Maybe not to us, but to the Raiders.
I am very intrigued by Kyler Murray, I know this sounds crazy… and it could just be the Brisbane heat but as much as I am liking Mendoza I feel like the Raiders should sign Kyler and then trade their first pick to the Jets and use some of the booty to bolster their team but use the other to build draft stock in next year first round where they could move up and select a QB….or not. There may be something “Minty” in the air if this thing keeps trending this way.
Loving Maxx’s undertaker post! He seems locked in with the Raiders!
Aussie Raider
Aussie, no way should Raiders trade the Mendoza pick, and put all Qb eggs in the Murray basket.
Murray has been in the league for seven years with minimum success. He's a short Qb, that doesn't run as well as he used to.
No thank you on Murray. The Raiders poured blood, sweat, tears, and tanking to get the # 1 pick. It's Mendoza all the way !!!
IMO, Kyler Murray is perhaps a QB you target if you don't have the first pick in the draft and Mendoza isn't available to you. Because we've tried more highly acclaimed QBs than Murray and fell flat. Jimmy G in recent memory. Even Geno Smith went from Pro Bowl to bust with the Raiders.
Raiders have a unique opportunity to not do that again. And they brought in coaches that are likely to be more adept at teaching a young QB than previous staffs (although, McDaniels has proven his chops in that dept - just not while with the Raiders).
Add one of the best centers in the league and the stars are lining up for the Raiders and Mendoza.
Honestly, I had already accepted Mendoza as the new face of the Raiders with Crosby out the door. Having Crosby back would be amazing but I think the Raiders still trade him before the draft. They may be turning clocks back for a fresh start.
I said it after Maxx was traded that I would be more excited about the FA's if we had him, and now I am feeling minty fresh again. Crosby has been the heart and soul of this team, like others before him, and I will never understand why they would seek to rid of him instead of building around him.
Now they have no choice. I don't think anyone will want his services after the Baltimore debacle. He will play this season with us to show everyone he is back, and the League has been put on notice. We don't play the Ravens this year, unless its playoffs. Which honestly, the Ravens didn't make the playoffs last season, and I doubt they will this season. I think the Raiders have a better opportunity than the Ravens. JUST WIN, BABY
It's a bit ironic that the Ravens returned Crosby then signed Henderickson who is also recovering from surgery. Meanwhile, Crosby has a renewed interest and intent to play for the Raiders. Couple that with the Raiders signing the Ravens pro bowl center and it definitely looks like the Raiders got the best of that exchange (which is something we are not accustomed to).
Of course it would be nice having two first round picks, but Mendoza is a lock and the Raiders have the #33 pick to grab a starter caliber WR.
The Raiders are a much better team than Carroll left behind. I don't think that can be disputed. It's going to be interesting to see how the rest of the team is put together.
BTW, I believe Carroll was quoted as saying the Raiders didn't draft any good O-linemen for him. Not sure Charles Grant and Caleb Rogers would agree. These guys didn't see the field until the end of the season and one or both graded higher than the Carroll's starters. Carroll is arguably the most disappointing head coach in Raiders history, now he's doing the circuit complaining he didn't have resources. I couldn't even stomach to follow this off-season if Carroll were still HC.
Watch out, someone's feeling minty fresh! After seeing y'all's enthusiasm I have to consider my cynicism in this take, perhaps my hope has been overly poisoned by events over my 22+ years of running this blog (thanks, Mark).
It may all work out in the end, but I still contend that it was no coincidence that it was the Raiders of all teams that got caught up short with this shocking pivot, maybe when you make a big deal of out Crosby's injury at the end of the season you should be prepared for a trade partner to exploit the injury for their own gain.
Kyler Murray - kinda of a low energy, low leadership guy with skills. Could do worse if the price tag is cheap. Wouldn't he be a better QB than anyone we've had in a while? Good insurance if Mendoza isn't ready out of the gates or gets hurt. Raiders are swinging for the fences, but gotta be pretty solid at QB for it to work.
It's been an interesting off-season, almost unrecognizable for the Raiders. They got their top choice for HC and filled coaching staff with some solid choices (as it looks). While disappointing on the surface, getting two first round picks (#14 this year) for Crosby made more sense after seeing what they accomplished last Monday, which was nothing short of a free agent extravaganza... not the bargain basement BS we're used to. The Raiders have been firing on all cylinders. That's insane to even suggest after the past 22 years.
As for Crosby, that's a real headscratcher. Did the Ravens just play the Raiders? Maybe it was just cold feet on giving up 2 draft picks, because signing Hendrickson and keeping the picks seemed much smarter for them, IMO. Did the Raiders know something and not disclose it? And is that why they pulled Crosby from the trade market? We still don't know for sure if Crosby will stay a Raider. That aspect kinda sucks.
I agree with Kyler Murray as a potential backup, but not as a replacement for Mendoza which I think was mentioned above that the Raiders go a different direction with the #1 pick. Mendoza has to be the guy, IMO, make or break. There's a reason the Cards gave up on Murray (after 7 years!), and it shouldn't give any team inspiration that Murray can be the guy. His career likely just went the way of Marcus Mariota.
All of this speculation for a Vet QB has brought up interesting conversation. A lot of people are looking at mobile QB's in this conversation, but the last 2 Kubiak QBs have been pocket passers: Derek Carr and Sam Darnold. I'm interested in seeing what he can do with AOC as the starter. With that said, I am intrigued with the rumors that Derek Carr may come back and play for the Raiders. He is still in football shape, and is completely healthy at this point.
There are really 2 QB names that have been heavily talked about: Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers. Not sure the Raiders can afford either.
For me, there are a few cheaper options that can compete with AOC at QB:
Hendon Hooker, Tyrod Taylor, Zach Wilson, Teddy Bridgewater, and Trey Lance. Names that I was hoping the Raiders would look at, but are signed by other teams: Malik Willis (Dolphins), Marcus Mariota (Commanders), Case Keenum (Bears), and Tyler Huntley (Ravens).
We will see what the Raiders continue to do, who by far, has had the best Free Agency period in the NFL this offseason. This is probably their best Free Agency run since Gruden 1 during his Super Bowl run for the Raiders. Again, especially since we have Crosby back.
That list of QBs reminds me why I'm so high on Mendoza. IMO, don't bring any of them to the Raiders. Derek Carr is the only one, and that's only to help mentor Mendoza. Otherwise, leave it to the coaches. Let Mendoza and AOC battle it out for Day 1 starter. Derek Carr did that and won the job.
I agree on the quality of QB available, I think it’s clear the route the Raiders are going is Fernando with the 1# pick and I wouldn’t be opposed to signing Carr as a backup provided it a team friendly number.
If you haven't listened to Maxx Crosby's podcast "The Rush" do yourself a favor and listen. He talks about what went down about being traded, and the trade being rejected. Eric DeCosta didn't even meet with him, and Minter met with him after the physical. He went to the Ravens HQ, and immediately went to the physical, nobody greeted him. When he finally met Minter, Minter was "acting weird" and eventually told Maxx that there was some concerns.
This was the most real, and crazy podcast I've heard. Maxx's indication was he was surprised to be traded. I think the media have written their own narrative of Maxx demanding a trade. I think the truth is he and Brady had an argument about Brady's decision to sit Maxx the final 2 games without being in the building and seeing Maxx put in the work. Brady was informed by Guerrero to bench Maxx. In the end, I think Brady was butt-hurt to be confronted by Crosby and worked the deal to trade him, to make an example out of him. Brady is a douche-bag, I still don't like him. I wish he was never part of the Raiders.
In the end, Maxx is still a Raider, and because of that fact, the Raiders' offseason has been great.
I've had these conversations with friends who disagree with my assessment that Crosby never wanted to be trade but reacted harshly to being sidelined for two games. He's a Raider!
As for the Eagles shift to Hendrickson, evidence suggests they made that decision before Crosby entered the building, but it was the "physical" that provided their only escape from the agreement. The medical contingency was their only out.
The Eagles loss is the Raiders gain. For me, the big shift is at WR. The Raiders had the #14 pick, which IMO screamed top-3 WR in the draft. Now with the #36 pick I think they shift to best available player at any position except of course QB or TE.
The Raiders are a different team since the super bowl a few weeks ago. I don't think anyone can dispute that. But don't take my word for it. I was on board with bringing in Josh McDaniels. I also thought extending Antonio Pierce was the right call. In my defense, I was not high on signing Pete Carroll. I'm 1 for 3... but that's not helping anyone.
Hey Nate,
I definitely don’t think there is a rift between Brady and Maxx or Maxx wouldn’t be so eager to stay a Raider, my take for the interview was it’s just a shock to be moved, kinda like when you call someone’s bluff and they realise how good they had it at home. Either way I am chuffed that he is still in Silver and Black! He is the cherry to a really aggressive free agent signing period! Now keep solidifying the lines and we will be making some noise
Aussie Raider
What are the chances the Raiders trade Crosby by the draft or in-season before the trade deadline? 50/50? Maybe more if Crosby returns to form.
They took on free agency like they were "replacing" Crosby. That mindset might not have changed. Brady is all-in on a rebuild, and he appears to be the one making the decisions.
Aussie,
Didn't mean to make it sound like a riff. Maxx was upset about being benched the last 2 games, that much is a fact. Maxx and Brady were also seen arguing with each other in the offseason. Nobody knows what the argument was about, except Maxx and Brady. I think Brady was butt-hurt that Maxx called him out for making a decision when he wasn't in the building based on second hand information. Maxx called him out because Brady never had a conversation with Maxx. Brady is soft when he gets called out by people, and gets butt-hurt easily.
With that said, I never wanted Maxx gone, and all indications are, Maxx did not want to be traded, nor never demanded a trade with anyone in the building. AFL Godfather on Twitter is someone in the Raiders' building and has inside knowledge, and he made it clear on a Twitter post on March 5th, that the trade was purely done out of compensation purposes. https://x.com/NFLMAVERICK/status/2029637014325243998
I'm glad Maxx is back with us, should have never happened.
As it stands today, here is my first Mock Draft for the Raiders:
1. Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana)
36. Caleb Banks (NT, Florida)
67. Cotton Hood (CB, Tennessee)
102. Logan Jones (OG, Iowa)
117. Ja'Kobi Lane (WR, USC)
134. Jude Bowry (OT, Boston College)
175. Parker Brailsford (OG, Bama)
185. Trey Zuhn (OT, TX A&M)
208. Tyreek Sapp (EDGE, Florida)
219. Aamil Wagner (OT, Notre Dame)
Two guards and three offensive tackles? The Raiders drafted two O-linemen last year, I hope they don't spend half their draft drafting O-line. I see WR by Round 4 and RB somewhere in the mix.
I did it because we need depth on the O-Line. Bowry and Brailsford can play T or G, Trey Zuhn can play T, G, and C. Logan Jones could be a Day 1 starter. I think Spytek is going to the trenches on the O-Line this draft, could even do more on the D-Line too. Instead of Bowry, he could pick Domonique Orange (NT, Iowa St) or Tim Keenan III (NT, Bama). At our last pick, the other players I was considering there were Jalen Stroman (S, Notre Dame), Adam Randall (RB, Clemson), or Mohamed Toure (LB, Miami).
I agree about OL depth but not at the expense of other positions. Too many holes. Seems like you want to overplay the OL card. I'd rather pick players who can earn spots on the roster. There's no way 5 OL can make the roster.
What about this backup RB from Notre Dame? That seems like a sneaky good pick somewhere in the draft. RB and special teams KR.
I am concerned about Kolton Miller. I think we may need two OTs, I know the media is spewing we need a RT, but I think we may need a LT too. So yeah, I'm overselling the O-Line because games are won in the trenches.
RIP Barrett Robbins!
As unintentional as it may have been, Robbins desertion to Tijuana prior to the Raiders last Super Bowl represents an inflection point in Raiders' history which they have never recovered. That was a turning point and literally marked the last day which the Raiders were a good team. Now in its third decade, the Raiders have zero playoff wins and still counting.
Perhaps, posthumously, Barrett will be kind enough to lift the curse.
I remember I’ve never been as angry with a coaching decision than I was with Bill to sit Barrett in the Super Bowl, that changed the whole dynamic of that team, shameful decision. Crazy I was just watching a program on him, sad day for the Raider Nation.
“Fernando Mendoza is working with Brian Griese right now and it’s not so much that they are working on footwork, they’re installing the Raiders offense,” Jeremiah said .
Installing the Raiders offense a month before the draft. A far cry from where the Raiders stood with JaMarcus Russell, who eventually held out well into his first season. This is unprecedented territory for the Raiders. Pretty obvious that the Raiders are drafting Mendoza to play QB, not sit on the bench for any period of time.
Thank goodness for the Giants... because Pete wanted to win that game.
Kirk Cousins to sign with Raiders. Obviously, Cousins is a stopgap to Mendoza... but what a difference a year makes. When you consider how easily Chip Kelly and Geno Smith found new jobs, it's really an indictment of how bad and/or ill-prepared Pete Carroll was to be HC of the Raiders. That's not entirely on Carroll, as the Raiders deserve a lot of blame for hiring him. But maybe this all works out to the Raiders benefit.
Reports suggesting Cousins signed a $142M contract with the Raiders are misleading. Raiders will have one year with Cousins as a bridge QB at a total cost just over $11M, with the Falcons picking up the rest. Kubiak spent three years with Cousins in Minnesota... which produced a record FA contract for Cousins with the Falcons. Seems smart on paper.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/raiders-managed-to-stick-the-falcons-with-8-7-million-in-kirk-cousins-2026-pay
This could be the most consequently off-season in memory... or worst case, it will just be a hell of a good try.
"consequential"
Welcome to the Raiders, Kirk! He has options in his contract the next 2 years. So the Raiders could be one and done with him without any repercussions. This is one of the most brilliant moves. It is amazing to me how some in the media are criticizing this contract, even though the Raiders were not the only ones to do something like this. The Patriots did this to the Raiders with Randy Moss. Funny how that works.
I feel this offseason is similar when the Raiders got Gannon, Rice, Wheatley, and Garner. I'm glad we kept Maxx.
Post a Comment
<< Home