Howie Long gives Maxx Crosby the biggest compliment you can give a Raiders player

The Las Vegas Raiders have a very, very rich history. They have some of the richest history in the league, with some of the most iconic players ever. It just meant more to wear the Silver and Black back then than it does now. And, even now it's still a big deal, but back then the Raiders were respected and feared by everyone. That's just what it was.

Now, no one is scared of this team, but they have no reason to be. The Raiders haven't won a playoff game in over 20 years. The franchise doesn't get the same respect they used to, and that's a large part because of all of the different regimes they have gone through, and all of the different cultures that have come in and out of the franchise.

That's the key word - culture. The Raiders' most important player, Maxx Crosby, is making sure that culture stays in place. In fact, he has recreated it.

"The culture was an important thing, and you come in, and, I don't want to say there was a void of that, but it had to be kind of recreated," Raiders legend Howie Long said on Crosby's podcast. "History is a great thing, and I know you appreciate history and the players that have come before you, but I think you kind of establishing a new kind of culture and making your own history is exciting for all of us to watch."

Long is one of the greatest Raiders players of all time, and is probably a lot of fans' favorite player of all time. He was nasty, mean, and very good at what he did. The 13-year Raider finished his career with having only played for the silver and black and accumulated 91 sacks in his career. He is a player that I'm sure Crosby has looked up to and maybe watched a lot of tape over.

So, for Long to say that to Crosby, it has to mean a lot to him. Crosby has undoubtedly changed the way things are done. He is the Raiders, and he will be a Raider for the rest of his life. Howie Long knows that, too. And, culture is a huge reason why Antonio Pierce was hired not only as the interim but brought back as the full-time head coach. Culture is everything to this franchise.

Related: Defensive end Maxx Crosby pays tribute to Raiders legend Jim Otto