Overview of THE HERD — Hour 3 (Maxx Crosby on Raiders' future; "Tomorrow's headlines today")
This hour features a long interview with Las Vegas Raiders defensive star Maxx Crosby and the show's regular “Tomorrow’s headlines today” segment (Super Bowl and NFL predictions), plus a news roundup (MVP voting, coaching moves, Hall of Fame). Crosby discusses his mindset, rehab from multiple surgeries, leadership approach, and his position on Raiders chatter. The hosts then run through quick takes and provocative headlines for the Super Bowl, MVP, and other offseason storylines.
Maxx Crosby interview — key points
Background & mindset
- Crosby (spells name with two x’s) emphasizes the chip-on-the-shoulder mentality from being under-recruited/drafted and how that fuels his daily obsession to improve.
- He frames long-term goals clearly: DPOY, first-team All-Pro honors, and a Super Bowl.
Rehab, injuries, and availability
- Crosby says rehab is “phenomenal” and ahead of schedule. He’s returning from his eighth surgery in seven years.
- He’s spending long hours at the facility (early mornings, long sessions) and prioritizing getting healthy for next season.
Leadership and team role
- Crosby says he’s learned to be quieter publicly; he focuses on leading by example in the locker room and in practice rather than being publicly vocal about personnel/coach decisions.
- He wants to be the hardest worker every day and lets his actions speak for him.
On being doubled/chipped and handling attention
- Early in his career, he struggled with opponents scheming him out (chips/doubles), but now sees it as a sign of respect and a problem to solve, not something to get frustrated about.
- Advises teammates (example: Maliek Collins / Malcolm Koon?? — transcript references teammate getting chipped) to stay level-headed and ready for the one-on-one opportunities.
Relationship to recent departures / Patriots mention
- Crosby noted many former Raiders teammates (named in the interview) moved to New England and are in the Super Bowl; he’s happy for them but would rather be playing.
- He’s kept quiet on roster/coach speculation to avoid creating noise and being misquoted.
News & analysis covered in the hour
- MVP voting recap: Matthew Stafford narrowly edged Drake Maye in the media MVP voting (Stafford over Maye, close vote). One voter gave a first-place vote to Justin Herbert, which generated controversy given how close the Stafford/Maye votes were.
- Jim Schwartz (Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator) resigned after being passed over for a head-coaching job; there is speculation he could be a candidate for the Raiders defensive coordinator opening.
- Pro Football Hall of Fame 2026 inductees noted: Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri, and senior finalist Roger Craig — hosts reacted positively to the class.
"Tomorrow's headlines today" — notable predictions & takes
The hosts ran quick "headline-style" predictions for upcoming storylines and the Super Bowl:
- Cowboys / George Pickens: Prediction is Dallas will tag/keep George Pickens (headline expectation: tag/retain him).
- Super Bowl matchup pick: Hosts predicted Seahawks over Patriots (they favored Seattle as the stronger team and viewed New England as somewhat fortunate to get here).
- Super Bowl MVP pick: Kenneth Walker (K-9) — highlighted as a sleeper because of matchup nuances (Patriots’ tendency to allow RB catches).
- Sam Darnold / Seahawks: Hosts view Darnold's story as an emotional redemption arc; they expect him to be efficient and game-managing rather than explosive.
- Drake Maye (Patriots QB) skepticism: Hosts were critical of Maye’s playoff resume and worried he’ll struggle against Seattle’s elite run defense; they view the matchup as a tough ask for a young QB.
- Score prediction example: One host predicted roughly a 24–9 Seahawks win (low-scoring game).
Notable quotes (highlights)
- Crosby: “I always had to fight and go above and beyond to prove myself… I know there’s a DPOY in my future. I know there’s a Super Bowl.”
- Crosby on attention: “If they’ve got a red circle around me and say ‘stop this guy,’ that’s ultimate respect.”
- Crosby on public comments: “I’ve learned my lessons… that’s not my job. My job is to be the best player I can possibly be.”
Main takeaways
- Maxx Crosby is focused, disciplined, and committed to rehabbing and returning stronger; he’s choosing to lead quietly and let performance do the talking.
- Crosby accepts being schemed away as a sign of respect and emphasizes preparation to capitalize on limited opportunities.
- The show is skeptical about Drake Maye’s ability to thrive against an elite Seahawks defense in the Super Bowl — they prefer Seattle and expect a low-scoring game.
- The Raiders’ defensive staff search is worth watching (Jim Schwartz’s resignation and potential availability were mentioned as relevant to Las Vegas).
What to watch next (actionable items)
- Raiders: monitor the organization’s DC hire and any offseason moves — that will materially affect how Crosby and the front seven are deployed next season.
- Maxx Crosby updates: rehab timeline and any official availability news for training camp/preseason.
- Super Bowl matchup details: Seattle’s defensive game plan vs. Patriots’ offensive tendencies — particularly how Seahawks limit Drake Maye and whether Kenneth Walker finds space.
- MVP / voting fallout: watch media narratives after the Super Bowl — especially given the close MVP voting and ballot controversy.
Episode notes
- The hour includes sponsor ads and several short segments (news digests and promotional plugs) typical of The Herd.
- Interview tone: conversational, with Crosby projecting gratitude, competitiveness, and a refusal to engage in media speculation about team decisions.