The Maxx Crosby walkout has thrown fresh light on an old question for the Las Vegas Raiders: Where is the line between professionalism and strategic planning?
As always, there is a faction that believes in winning at all costs. That instinct is understandable. The other side recognizes that victories in a lost season can mean the difference between continued mediocrity and the chance to draft a franchise quarterback.
Crosby’s frustration over shutting things down speaks to exactly why he is revered. He takes no snaps off. He plays through pain. He is the modern embodiment of the franchise’s old standard. That is why he is beloved—and why this situation is so charged.
The decision was a difficult one for the Raiders…
The decision by management—likely general manager John Spytek—was a difficult one. They knew it would draw pushback from their most influential leader. But once Brock Bowers was shelved, the path became clearer. Preserving their most valuable defensive star for the long term was the logical, if unpopular, choice.
What makes Crosby great is what makes the decision necessary. He plays with reckless commitment, absorbing hits and creating havoc. Allowing him to grind through two meaningless games risked further injury and jeopardized the draft positioning required to reset the franchise.
Ideally, cooler heads prevail and Crosby eventually views this through a business lens. Around the league, eliminated teams routinely shelve injured or heavily used stars. Players rarely flip a switch and coast. They need protection from their own competitive instincts. Concussion protocols exist for exactly that reason.
For years, the Raiders have leaned on pride and scraped together late-season wins that did nothing but push them out of quarterback range. That cycle is how they ended up in perpetual limbo. Breaking it requires restraint, even when it clashes with a player’s warrior mentality.
All that remains is to finish out these last two games and secure the draft position that could finally deliver a long-term solution at quarterback.
Losing on purpose may be distasteful. It may also be the franchise’s most rational gamble.
*Top Photo: Getty Images