Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) warms up against the Kansas City Chiefs prior go a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Las Vegas Raiders’ disappointing season is a reflection of how things have been for them in the last 10 years. They made it to the NFL playoffs only twice in a decade, and, it’s been more than 40 years since the team last won the Super Bowl. Fans are understandably frustrated. Amid all the ire, the fans can probably take heart from how the attitude of their talisman Maxx Crosby has changed towards them.

The Raiders defensive stalwart revealed in a recent media appearance that early on in his career, he had looked down on fans. He felt they were excessively and unduly criticizing him and his teammates for pushing to win games when the season was already down for the count. In Maxx’s eyes, fans were taking the players to the cleaners without knowing enough about things happening behind the scenes.

“Early days of my career, I’d be like, ‘Man, screw the fans, we’re trying to win… they don’t know nothing.’ Now, I feel the same way, I want to win every game no matter what. But I’m more understandable about the fans’ approach,” Crosby said on The Get Good Podcast.

Over the years, Crosby has realized where they are coming from. While they want their team to be consistent winners, they also want their team to lose if the season is over for them. That way, they can secure a top pick in the subsequent year’s draft. The star defensive end didn’t quite get this notion till a few years ago. Understandably so, since he was there to “win”.

“Because, as a team, as a organisation, when you have an opportunity, and the season’s already over, I understand where they are coming from wanting to get a top pick. Anybody says they that they don’t understand that logic, they’re crazy I now get it. As a fan, you want your team to win and be a consistent winner,” added Crosby.

Maxx also assured fans that he and the Raiders are doing their best. He acknowledged that he didn’t have all the answers to why the team isn’t winning consistently, but they are trying to change that. And we’ve seen the attempts, from coaching changes to QB adjustments.

“That’s something that we’ve been trying to figure out for years (How to be a consistent winner)… who’s going to be our coach? Who’s gonna be our quarterback? Who’s gonna lead us? So those are all things that still, you know, got to be answered. I don’t have all the answers,” he elaborated.

Maxx has promised to show up on the field with utmost commitment in the meantime, while the team tries to find the answers. The NFL DE assured that these aren’t hollow promises. “All I want to do is win… [so] I understand both sides of it,” said Maxx.

A player of Crosby’s qualities sticking to the Raiders like glue speaks volumes about the DE’s loyalty. That said, it does feel like it’s only a matter of time before Maxx thinks of leaving Vegas.

He has expressed frustration over the unnecessary changes within the team, which haven’t brought about any positive results. And since they are in full rebuild mode, which will take years to complete, Maxx could very well leave for greener pastures. As he has said, he wants to win, and that would take time to materialize in Sin City.