Raiders' Players Getting Brutally Honest About Maxx Crosby

Ever since he was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2019, Maxx Crosby has been one of the best players for the team, and one of the best defenders in the entire NFL.

The main reason for that is his work ethic. Crosby only knows one speed, and that is 100%, all the time. He carries that level of effort throughout the regular season, but something that sets him apart from his competitors is the way he carries that intensity into practice, and the preseason.

"He's always trying to touch you," said Gardner Minshew, who was awarded the team's starting quarterback job on Sunday after the Raiders' 27-12 loss to the Dallas Cowboys . "It's Kind of his thing."

Crosby has been part of a defense that has been giving Las Vegas' offense fits throughout training camp. The defense, specifically Crosby, has been so good, head coach Antonio Pierce has had to take his star edge rusher off the field at times:

"It is difficult when you have a player of his magnitude, the way he practices, the effort," Pierce said. "I think, when we're doing things as a team, certain things we just got to get off. There's certain plays we want to see, and sometimes you've got to pull him off on those plays to get the look for the offense."

At some point, Crosby's dominance in practice has gotten under the skin of some members of the Raiders' offense.

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There was an instance earlier in camp where Crosby and Will Putnam, a center who was signed earlier this offseason as an undrafted free agent, got into a scuffle . Crosby reportedly took Putnam's helmet off and threw it, out of frustration.

"It's that love-hate relationship," said D.J. Glaze, another rookie offensive lineman. "When you go against him, it's going to be a long day, but it's only going to make us better."

If the Raiders want to contend for the playoffs in 2024, they'll have to get a bunch of production from Crosby throughout the year. Based on his intensity in camp so far, that seems pretty likely.