The Miami Dolphins have a plan for Maxx Crosby. After Miami’s latest comments, the Las Vegas Raiders star has even more to prove in Week 1.
Just days before the Raiders open their season against Miami, Dolphins left tackle Patrick Paul offered a detailed scouting report on how to neutralize Crosby, calling him a “hot head” who can be knocked off his game with physicality and disruption. Paul told Miami reporters that beating Crosby to his spots, getting hands on him early, and being aggressive for all four quarters is the recipe for containing the Raiders’ star pass rusher.
The comments land at a charged moment for Crosby, who is already playing with a chip on his shoulder after this offseason’s trade saga. Las Vegas nearly dealt him to Baltimore before the Ravens backed out, sending him back to the Raiders, a sequence former teammate Gerald McCoy says left Crosby “extremely upset” and motivated to prove both sides wrong.
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For the Raiders, Crosby’s mindset matters well beyond one Week 1 matchup…
He remains the unquestioned centerpiece of Las Vegas’ pass rush. The entire defensive front is built around him, with McCoy noting that the unit’s energy runs off Crosby’s motor.
The defensive line also lacks another proven double-digit sack threat. That makes any dip in Crosby’s availability or production even more significant. It could have an outsized ripple effect on the Raiders’ ability to pressure quarterbacks and support a secondary that will lean heavily on the front four.
No. 98 is also a significant cap and long-term value asset. How he performs early in a make-or-break season for the franchise could shape decisions well before the trade deadline. Adam Schefter has already suggested that a non-contending Raiders team could field calls on Crosby in October.
Crosby is likely to view Paul’s comments as motivation rather than a distraction. If the pass rush fails to translate into victories, Sunday could serve as an early benchmark. It could reveal both Crosby’s drive and the level of scrutiny the Raiders’ record will face.
One thing is certain: Maxx Crosby will play Sunday with something extra to prove, and Miami just handed him the headline for it.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images