After a humiliating loss to the Broncos, Maxx Crosby snaps and delivers a blistering message about his future with Geno Smith. DH
LAS VEGAS — What was supposed to be another gritty Thursday Night showdown between the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos quickly turned into a night of embarrassment, heartbreak, and explosive emotions inside the Raiders locker room. The Broncos edged out the Raiders 10–7 in a defensive slugfest — but the real story came after the game.
Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, the emotional heartbeat of the team and a fan favorite known for his relentless motor, didn’t hold back in his postgame remarks. With frustration written all over his face, Crosby delivered one of the boldest statements of his career.
“I’m sick of this,” Crosby said, his voice cracking with anger. “Every week it’s the same story. When Geno [Smith] is our quarterback, we’re not going to know what winning feels like. I’ve given my heart and soul to this team, but I can’t keep doing this.”
The comment stunned reporters and sent shockwaves across the NFL world. For a player who has been the Raiders’ undisputed leader and emotional cornerstone, this was far more than just postgame frustration — it was a declaration of war against complacency.
Sources inside the Raiders locker room told ESPN that Crosby’s outburst followed a heated confrontation between several players, including Geno Smith, after the offense failed to capitalize on multiple scoring opportunities. One insider described the mood as “nuclear,” saying:
“Maxx isn’t just angry about one game — he’s angry about culture. He wants accountability, and he feels like he’s the only one still fighting for it.”
Crosby’s performance against Denver was, as always, dominant — 2 sacks, 5 QB pressures, and a forced fumble — but even his heroics weren’t enough to mask the team’s offensive meltdown. Geno Smith completed just 14 of 33 passes for 126 yards and one interception, while the Raiders managed only 7 points despite starting two drives inside Denver territory.
The Raiders, now sitting at 3–6, are spiraling fast, and the locker room appears fractured. When asked if he would consider requesting a trade should things remain unchanged, Crosby didn’t flinch:
“I love the Raiders. I bleed silver and black. But if things don’t change — if leadership doesn’t change — I’ll have to think about what’s next for me.”
The comment has already set social media ablaze, with #FreeCrosby trending across X (formerly Twitter) within minutes of his statement. Fans are rallying behind their defensive star, demanding accountability from both the coaching staff and front office.
It’s rare for a player of Crosby’s loyalty to even hint at leaving, but this was different. It was raw, emotional, and real — the kind of moment that can define a season or shatter a franchise from within.
As one anonymous teammate put it bluntly:
“If Maxx walks, this whole thing burns down.”
For the Raiders, this wasn’t just another loss — it was a message. And if that message isn’t heard soon, Las Vegas could be facing a storm far greater than anything that’s hit Allegiant Stadium before.
‘Get a Quarterback, Not a New Coach’ – Todd Haley Blasts Steelers Fans Over Tomlin Criticism
Calls for the Pittsburgh Steelers to move on from head coach Mike Tomlin arose again after the defense gave up 30-plus points in back-to-back losses in October. An upset win Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts silenced those calls, but they are likely to come once more if the Steelers suffer another losing streak.
However, former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Todd Haley dismissed any suggestions that the Steelers need a new head coach.
“This is one of the smartest guys I’ve ever been around,” Haley said of Tomlin this week on the Mangia Cast on Bleav. “Smartest intellectually, smartest football. He’s phenomenal …
“All these Pittsburghers [who say], ‘We need a new coach.’ No.
“Just get a quarterback that can play, and continue to find good players.”
Haley served as Steelers offensive coordinator under Tomlin for six seasons from 2012-17. Led by the Killer Bees — Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell — the Steelers finished in the top 10 in points scored and yardage during each of Haley’s last four years with the organization.
That era has remained one of the most successful of Tomlin’s entire tenure. From 2014-17, the Steelers posted a 45-19 regular season record and won at least 10 games every season.
Todd Haley Defends Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin
An Upper St. Clair native, Haley grew up in Pittsburgh. When he joined the Steelers coaching staff in 2012, he expressed how much of a dream job it was.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Haley held a grudge against Tomlin and/or the Steelers. Despite his successful four-year run, cultivating in a top 3 finish in yards during 2017, the team didn’t renew Haley’s contract following the 2017 campaign.
Yet, Haley still had nothing but great things to say about Tomlin during his latest media appearance.
“You’re in good hands,” Haley said of the Steelers with Tomlin, via Steelers Depot’s Troy Montgomery. “He is really awesome. I was amazed by him every day.”
Despite being the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL, Tomlin has virtually no coaching tree. But, Tomlin has hired several former NFL head coaches during his tenure.
Haley was one of those former head coaches. Haley served as the Kansas City Chiefs head coach from 2009-11, just before arriving in Pittsburgh.
Prior to that, Tomlin and the Steelers defeated Haley’s offense in the Super Bowl. Haley was the Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator from 2007-08.
Haley Addresses Ben Roethlisberger Relationship
Other than Tomlin, the other significant narrative Haley addressed during his latest media appearance was his relationship with Roethlisberger.
Haley didn’t have negative things to say about “Big Ben.” He tried to emphasize the time he spent with the quarterback away from football.
But the details Haley provided about his working relationship with Roethlisberger weren’t particularly positive.
“You guys just brought up perception. Perception is not reality. We played golf together. We played darts together. I think coaching is how you coach somebody,” Haley said, via Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora. “With Ben, I went about it a little different way. His good friend was on our staff. Our quarterbacks coach. I figured out pretty quickly that if I talked to Randy Fichtner, who became the coordinator after I was there, that Ben would pay attention.
“I never yelled at Ben. Never said a word to Ben. But if I called Randy over after a bad play, Ben would work his way around the practice field. And I’d see him say, ‘What did he say?’
“I coached through conduit.”
It’s hard to believe Haley “never” said a word to his starting signal-caller over six seasons. But the fact the former coordinator ever had to coach Roethlisberger through one of his friends on the coaching staff reveals a lot about their working relationship.
Commanders coordinator is doing something fans have been begging John Morton to do
At the midway point in the season, coaches will try anything to fix prolonged issues. For Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., it’s a change of scenery.
On Sunday’s playoff rematch against the Detroit Lions, Whitt will leave the coordinator booth and call the defensive side of the ball from the field. Speaking with the media on Thursday, Whitt explained his decision:
“Moving to the field, I think, the energy that I have in practice that can be probably positive within the game for the players. Couple of the guys have been asking for me to come down as well, and so I think it’s time for that to happen. We got to do whatever we have to do to get a win.”
When asked if there were examples where such a move could’ve been effective earlier, Whitt immediately met that question with a “No,” adding, “I’m not going to sit here and say that, okay, ‘If I would’ve been down here before, this thing would’ve been different.’ Not going to say that.” Whitt continued, “I’m going to say that we’re going to try something different because the results that we’ve been getting aren’t good enough.”
The Commanders are currently riding a four-game losing streak, allowing an average of 33.75 points per game. Overall, their 26.2 points allowed per game ranks 22nd in the league. They rank 29th in passing yards allowed per game (253.6) and 24th in rushing yards allowed (124.2), and their overall total yardage allowed ranks 28th (377.8). Despite this, the Commanders still have future Hall of Famers Bobby Wagner and Von Miller on their defense, which could give the shuffling Lions’ offensive line issues.
Like the Lions, the Commanders have also struggled with injury issues. This past week alone, the Commanders lost quarterback Jayden Daniels (Elbow), wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (Collarbone), and cornerback Marshon Lattimore (ACL) for an extended period of time. Whitt and the Commanders are scrambling to try to find their own “Legion of Whom” beyond their Hall of Fame duo, and Whitt’s move, the Commanders hope, will go a long way toward righting the ship.
Does John Morton need to leave the booth as well?
After the Detroit Lions’ loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, fans were quick to question the decision to have Morton call games from the booth. Communication was a major issue in that loss, one that could’ve been mitigated to an extent with the offensive coordinator on the sideline.
After that Week 1 loss, quarterback Jared Goff on 97.1 The Ticket shut down the notion that it even matters, saying, “No, I think that’s foolish.”
Entering Week 10, communication is still being called into question. Colton Pouncey of The Athletic posted two conflicting quotes from this week. One from head coach Dan Campbell after the Week 9 loss to the Vikings, saying that the team “did not handle some of the communication well.” The other from Morton on Thursday, saying, “Our communication has been really good.”
Dan Campbell on Sunday: “Listen, we did not handle some of the communication well. …That’s the bottom line. We’re better than that. We just are.”
John Morton on Thursday: “Our communication has been really good, ever since the Green Bay game. It’s been really good.”
Right now, the results don’t lie. The offense isn’t where it should be, and changes need to be made. If Campbell isn’t going to seize play-calling duties like he did with Anthony Lynn around the same time in 2021, then Morton should seriously consider making a similar move as Whitt has.
Whether or not a move to the sideline truly matters remains to be seen, but Whitt’s move is a big test of that theory. If the Commanders’ defense comes up big on Sunday and wins, then there may not be a choice but for Morton to have a change of scenery, whether it’s on the sideline or in a reduced role.
