Las Vegas Raiders legend Charles Woodson is never shy about sharing his honest thoughts on anything related to his old squad—the Maxx Crosby ordeal is not off limits.
Woodson has consistently spoken truthfully across different eras since his playing days. When the Raiders’ all-time great addressed the Maxx Crosby situation on X, “There’s a very thin line between protecting your best player and tanking. I choose the former”—he cut through a week’s worth of noise with the clarity only a Hall of Famer can deliver.
The discourse around Crosby’s late-season shutdown has spun into something louder and far less logical. If the Raiders truly wanted to tank, Crosby would not have spent 15 weeks playing through pain, carrying a defense missing half its core, dragging an offense that gave him nothing back, and refusing to leave the field.
The idea that team brass suddenly devised a stealth tanking plan only after their star edge rusher limped into December asks fans to believe in fiction. It borders on performance art.
Very thin line between protecting your best player and tanking. I choose the former
— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) December 28, 2025
This matter is not complicated…
The Raiders entered the final stretch with nothing left to chase except injuries and regret. Crosby has been playing hurt for weeks. Brock Bowers is shelved. The offense is volatile. The roster is incomplete. The franchise is staring at a pivotal offseason that could swing the next decade. At some point, even the most hard-wired gladiators must be saved from themselves.
Fans understand this far better than the pundits pretending otherwise. As one supporter put it, if you are the owner paying “multi millions,” and your franchise player is battered in a season already lost, you preserve the investment. Another noted that Crosby “won’t stop unless you stop him,” and anyone who has ever watched him hunt quarterbacks for four quarters knows exactly how true that is.
None of this is exclusive to the Raiders…
Every non-playoff team in the league is taking inventory right now—rotating youth, shutting down battered veterans, and playing for the future, not the illusion of pride points in Week 17. It is not tanking. It is stewardship.
The truth is less dramatic than the headlines, which is why it will never trend as fast. The Raiders are not running from competition; they are finally acknowledging reality. They need a long-term quarterback and they need their foundational stars healthy. Let’s just be honest, two meaningless wins won’t change anything and they certainly wouldn’t add any direction.
Crosby’s fury is part of what makes him legendary. The Raiders choosing to protect that greatness—even from him—is part of what makes the decision necessary.
*Top Photo: Getty Images