OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 08: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Oakland Raiders pumps up the crowd in the second half against the Tennessee Titans at RingCentral Coliseum on December 08, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby fired a shot in Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ direction this week.
It’s Patrick Mahomes’ league. The rest of the NFL is merely taking part in a twisted science experiment.
The reigning Super Bowl MVP and 2018 NFL MVP is growing into his leadership role as face of the league, making statements on prominent social causes such as the protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
Yet, a gnat just landed on Mahomes’ shoulder.
On Thursday, Las Vegas Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby talked smack about sacking Mahomes. Questionable move.
Raiders DE Maxx Crosby said he’ll sack Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes this season.
“I was close as few times. It pissed me off pretty much. Every second after that game was over, a couple times I was just mad. . . He’s a different type of player too. He’s one of those guys. He just backpedals, he’ll throw the ball from weird angles, it’s not like sacking a regular quarterback. Yeah, I’m definitely looking forward to sacking him. It needs to happen. It’s definitely going to happen,” Crosby told The Lefkoe Show.
We admire his confidence. Crosby notched 10 sacks in his rookie season, most of which came under the radar for a Raiders team in its final campaign in Oakland. Crosby’s name will known on the Vegas strip in the coming years.
Still, insisting it’s a foregone conclusion that Crosby, a second-year defensive end on a third-place AFC West squad in 2019, will sack the football magician that is Mahomes seems unwise.
Mark this down as bulletin-board material for Mahomes, Andy Reid and the Chiefs, who enter the season as rightful favorites to win the AFC West for a fifth straight time, and then win Super Bowl LV on their way to dynasty status.