Raiders All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby sets aside time for some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: How would you characterize your on-field mentality?
A: That’s my purest state, I would say. When I’m on the field, I’m a completely different person. … King of the jungle, a lion on attack, however you want to put it: That’s the killer side of me. I get to let out everything that’s inside of me and really hunt, and there’s no better feeling. It’s controlled chaos, and I do everything across the board all year round from meal prep to preparation to body work to training to film work every single day so I go out on that field and do what I was born to do, and that’s dominate every game that I step into. I love it. Love it isn’t the right word. I live it every single day. There’s no better feeling.
Q: Which quarterbacks haven’t you sacked that you would love to sack?
A: There’s a lot of quarterbacks out there. I’ve sacked a lot of ’em, but honestly any quarterback that I play against that I haven’t sacked yet, that’s the quarterback I want to sack. There’s a lot on that list. I know there’s a lot of young quarterbacks in this league, and I plan on hunting ’em down one by one.
Q: Do you have a favorite sack in the NFL?
A: I feel like when you’re playing the best, when you’re playing a [Patrick] Mahomes, a Lamar [Jackson], a Josh Allen, [Justin] Herbert, guys like that, especially in the fourth quarter, that’s when you make your money, the real money. And anytime you get a fourth-quarter sack and close the game, there’s nothing better than that.
Q: Have you sacked Aaron Rodgers?
A: Yes, I sacked Aaron Rodgers my rookie year at Lambeau [Field].
Q: What was that like for you?
A: That was amazing. I got it in the first quarter, going against a really good left tackle, got a sack and then I put the belt on after I sacked him. Then I found out I kind of learned my lesson being a rookie. I was a young kid, I didn’t give a damn and I put the belt on, then he ended up throwing like four touchdowns after that, so he kind of showed me up a little bit at that time.
Q: What are your thoughts on him playing at age 40 after tearing his Achilles last year?
A: It’s wild. You gotta give him his respect for that, playing at such an old age (chuckle) — as crazy as that is, like he’s 40 years old out there playing with a bunch of grown-ass men. You gotta give him nothing but respect. Him and [Tom] Brady and those guys that played for that long [like] Peyton Manning, those are the dudes that set the standard, and he’s definitely one of ’em.
Q: Favorite pass rushers over the years?
A: When I was young, Ndamukong Suh was my favorite pass rusher. I was a Lions fan growing up in Michigan. He was nasty. He crossed the line a few times, but he pushed the line all the time. That’s a dude that dominated at a high level. … Von Miller, real close friend of mine, is like a brother to me, seeing what he’s done with his career, he’s inspired me in more ways than a majority of guys. The list goes on and on. … J.J. Watt as well, when it comes to play style and dominating run and pass, I feel like J.J. Watt did it at the highest level. For me, that’s what I feel like separates myself from anybody in the league is my ability to not only rush the passer at a high level but also dominate the run game.
Q: What would you tell Giants fans about Jermaine Eluemunor?
A: Jermaine’s my guy! Love Jermaine; he’s a good dude. We got after it, for sure. He’s a good teammate. He’s come a long way. We battled every single day. I was trying to embarrass him on a daily basis, and he always would fight back. Guys like that, I gotta respect. I was with him for, I believe, three years here in [Las] Vegas. He’s doing great things, so I wish him nothing but the best.
Q: Do you like the nickname “The Condor?”
A: (Laugh) Yeah, I like that nickname a lot, for sure.
Q: Do you remember a former Raider named Ted Hendricks?
A: Of course, “The Mad Stork.”
Q: Do you see similarities between you and him?
A: Similar builds, for sure: long, lanky crazy white dudes. So yeah, there’s a lot of similarities there (laugh).
Q: What drives you?
A: There’s a lot of things, but it really comes down to two things that stick out the most. For me, it’s working and finding the best version of myself ’cause I know I’m not even at my best yet, and most people think, “How can you get better?” I get asked that question all the time, and I’m like, “I know I’m not at my best.” I have so much to achieve and so much to accomplish. You only get one shot at this. And my daughter (Ella Rose) and my wife (Rachel). My girls are my everything. My girl’s about to be 2; me and my wife have been together ever since I was at Eastern Michigan. And I got my three dogs too; I can’t leave them out either.
Q: Antonio Pierce’s leadership style.
A: I would just say everything is black and white. He’s very clear what he wants from us. We’re gonna have fun; we’re gonna do our thing; we’re also gonna work. We practice hard, we get after it on the daily basis, and he gives it to you straightforward.
Q: What is it like being an underwear (Saxx) model?
A: (Laugh) It’s different, to say the least. It’s actually funny: My brother (Myles) modeled for Calvin Klein. He’s still working with Ford, so he was the first one in the family, so I guess I had to carry on a family tradition. In my personal opinion, it’s the best underwear brand out there. The product is incredible, the people are incredible, and for me, I can wear it in any occasion, whether it’s working out, whether I’m hanging out or I’m going to a wedding, whatever it is, they fit the script across the board, and so I think it’s a no-brainer.
Q: Three dinner guests.
A: Kobe Bryant; Muhammad Ali; Michael Jordan. I got those three dudes tatted on me, so I’m going with them three, for sure.
Q: That’s under “Be Legendary” on your chest, right?
A: A hundred percent. As far as mindset, approach, killer instinct, those dudes have influenced me the most for sure.
Q: Favorite movies.
A: “Goodfellas,” “The Irishman,” “A Bronx Tale,” “Scarface.”
Q: Favorite actors.
A: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, Denzel [Washington].
Q: Favorite actress.
A: Margot Robbie.
Q: Favorite singer/rapper/entertainer.
A: Future.
Q: Favorite meal.
A: This place is called Babe’s Chicken, they only serve chicken fried steak and chicken and just a bunch of sides. So I would say the chicken fried steak with gravy on it, with the creamed corn, the biscuits and gravy, mashed potatoes. That’s like the greatest meal on Earth. It’s in Roanoke, Texas. It’s like 100 years old.
Q: Four-plus years of sobriety now. How proud of yourself are you?
A: Extremely. I’m not the type to pat myself on the back; I keep it straightforward with my goals and what I want to achieve. But something like that, I’ve really struggled to give myself credit. My wife always gets on me about it, but I will say I am proud of myself. I’m constantly seeking the best version of myself, and that’s on and off the field, so coming up on five years sobriety, I wouldn’t be in the position I am if I didn’t get sober and clean. A lot of people I can give credit to, but first I gotta give credit to myself because nobody was gonna make me sober besides myself. And I had to look myself in the mirror and make a lot of changes, and I did that and I’m still seeking the best version of myself. I’m far from perfect, but I’m focused on improving every day across the board. So, yeah, for sure, I would say I’m very proud of myself.
Q: What was the darkest moment?
A: There were a lot of dark moments. I can’t point to one thing specifically, but just not recognizing the person I looked at in the mirror. That was probably the darkest moment. I had no control over my life. It was a complete mess and chaos at all times, and it was overwhelming. The only person that was gonna change that was myself. There were a lot of people that helped, but I’ve tried to help a lot of people, I’ve been around people that have tried to help other people, and there’s about five percent of us, it’s like 5-10 percent that actually stay clean. The only way you do that is if you do the work, and it’s every single day. Every day is a new battle. There’s new things that get thrown at me every day, especially being in the position that I’m in … you got money, you got a lot of influence, a lot of things going for me, but with that, there comes a lot of darkness, as well. People come for ya. The standard I’ve set for myself as a player, I’m under a microscope at all times, and going through those tough times molded me to be able to handle what I’m going through. I love it. I love the adversity, I love being doubted, I love being told I can’t do something because I’m gonna do everything in my power to show you that those people are wrong and the ones that believe in me, that they’re right.
Q: What would you want your legacy to be?
A: I want to be the best to ever do it, period. That’s what I want. I want to leave back a legacy of immortality. Somebody that changed the game, and somebody that affected the game at the highest level. You talk about the D-end position and playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played, I want people to talk about me in that light … the way I don’t get off the field, the way I close games, the way I wreck game plans, instilling fear in the opponent. That’s the way I want to be remembered.