The last two decades have been brutal for the Las Vegas Raiders but they are finally making moves that could help them return to their former glory. The organization was so desperate that owner Mark Davis allowed legendary quarterback Tom Brady, who was once an enemy of the franchise, to become a minority owner of the team in 2024.
While this proposition was initially met with mixed reviews, the decision was approved by the league and Brady is expected to be a major part of Las Vegas' football operations for the foreseeable future. Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby spoke highly of Brady and his influence on Thursday with SiriusXM NFL Radio.
"Tom is just, he's exactly what you'd expect. You talk about a competitor. Every time I see him, he'll nudge and hit me in the back, or I'll shove him. It's just us talking (expletive), that's how he's built," said Crosby. "He's a winner, he always wants the hand up on somebody else. I'm the same way ... when you have people like that all across the board, I feel like it gives you a better chance."
Crosby's entire NFL career has been played with the Raiders, both in Oakland and Las Vegas. Since he was drafted in 2019, however, the team has only a single playoff appearance and no postseason victories.
While individual awards are highly sought after for NFL athletes, players like Crosby just simply want to win. Next season, he will play for both his fifth head coach and general managers since joining the Raiders six years ago, which is not an effective formula for having success at the NFL level.
Now, however, there is reason for optimism with Tom Brady in the fold for Las Vegas. Never in his career have the Raiders employed someone with the football acumen that Brady has, so Crosby is clinging on to that positivity.