Maxx Crosby Claps Back at Players-Only Meeting Rumor: 'We Were Just Talking Pizza, Not Drama!'
Amid a wave of rumors surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders’ locker room, defensive end Maxx Crosby set the record straight with a light-hearted yet firm response. Speculation had been swirling that Crosby had called a players-only meeting in the wake of the Raiders' struggles, but Crosby quickly dismissed these claims, offering a humorous take on the situation.
"Players-only meeting? Yeah, if by that you mean we all got together in the locker room to talk about how good pizza is, then sure. But no, there was no meeting. Just a lot of guys ready to ball out," Crosby said, laughing off the rumor. His response, delivered with his usual confidence and charisma, highlights the team's focus on performance rather than internal distractions.
The Raiders have been in a rough patch, facing a four-game losing streak before their crucial victory against the Tennessee Titans. During this time, rumors of internal strife and discontent began to surface, as is common when a team struggles. But Crosby, known for his leadership both on and off the field, made it clear that the focus is solely on football.
The rumor of a players-only meeting, often seen as a sign of tension or a call for change in a team’s dynamic, has been a staple of locker room gossip throughout the NFL. However, Crosby’s response showed that there was no need for dramatic intervention. The Raiders are a team that, despite setbacks, remains committed to improving and working together to turn things around.
"I don’t need to call a players-only meeting to lead this team. We’ve got the right guys in this locker room, and we know what needs to be done," Crosby added. His leadership has been crucial for the Raiders, with his consistent play and ability to keep the defense in line making him one of the team’s most valuable assets.
Crosby’s dismissive response to the rumor also serves as a message to fans and critics alike: the Raiders are staying focused on their goal of improvement, with or without the media’s hype. “We don’t need distractions,” Crosby said. “We need to keep our heads down and work harder to get back to winning.”
As the Raiders continue their season, Crosby’s approach to handling rumors and internal pressure could be just what the team needs to stay on course. His leadership, both in his words and actions, reinforces the idea that focus and determination are the true ingredients for success.
J.J. McCarthy’s Status as Starter Confirmed After Injury, Despite Carson Wentz’s Strong Play
One of the biggest stories in the NFL is what the Minnesota Vikings will do at the quarterback position.
Head coach Kevin O'Connell went into the season with J.J. McCarthy as his unquestioned starter, despite never having played a single game in the regular season. They made efforts to try and find a quality backup, even offering Daniel Jones substantial money to stay in Minnesota, but he chose correctly, as he's now the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts.
The Vikings ended up settling on a quarterback room of McCarthy, Sam Howell, Brett Rypien, and Max Brosmer, but made a major pivot by trading Howell after the final preseason game and signing Carson Wentz to be the backup.
J.J. McCarthy Injury Timeline
- J.J. McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain in the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2
- Kevin O'Connell told the media about the injury the next day, saying he could miss some time
- Carson Wentz went 2-1 as the starting quarterback for the Vikings, raising questions whether or not he would remain the starter
Tom Pelissero confirms J.J. McCarthy is the starting quarterback
NFL insider Tom Pelissero was on NFL Game Day talking about the Vikings quarterback situation, and he was clear that McCarthy is the starting quarterback.
"The Vikings quarterback situation is murky, to say the least. J.J. McCarthy, I'm told, got good work during the bye week. He should be able to return to practice this week, but McCarthy is still not 100%
on that ankle," said Pelissero. "They've got to see his mobility. They got to see how the ankle responds, and they got to make sure he is comfortable and in a groove from an operational perspective, before they put him back out on the field.
"Meanwhile, his backup, Carson Wentz is dealing with a left shoulder injury, and he could be limited in practice this week, a lot to sort through to figure out who's going to be out there on the field next week against the Eagles."
We've been in a situation over the last three weeks where there have been rumors about whether or not the Vikings had "quietly benched" the first-year starter. After the 48-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, O'Connell was asked about whether or not McCarthy would be the starter once he's healthy, and his words confirmed that he would be without actually saying it.
"I think first and foremost, he's got to get healthy," said O'Connell on September 22nd. "And then, throughout that process, I don't think it's one of those things where it's, ‘Hey, the day he's healthy.’ And if he's healthy the night before a game, we're going to just throw him out there and say, ‘Hey, go figure it out’ type of thing. I think we saw as phenomenal as he was getting prepared for the Atlanta game, he did miss practice that week. And when you're in the phase of building up the 10,000 reps and 10,000 hours of what it takes to play the position at a very high level, which we know J.J. McCarthy is going to do, you can't cut corners on that. And that also doesn't require an answer on that question today."
McCarthy was always going to be the guy once he was healthy, and it's been the case the entire time. We can put this to rest now.
