Raiders end Crosby’s season before 'Tank Bowl'

LAS VEGAS -- Two games left and the curtains closing on the NFL season, so time to look at the mess brewing in Henderson with the Las Vegas Raiders.

No team has been more disappointing than the 2-13 Raiders this year, and the collision between a star’s competitive drive and a franchise’s hunt for a draft pick has finally reached boiling point.

So just who will be securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 Draft is still very much up for grabs - although the Raiders seem determined to lose their way into contention.

The bookmakers would have had Maxx Crosby down as a certain starter, but after being told he’s being shut down for the final two games, the star defensive end reportedly stormed out of the facility in frustration.

But he’s by no means the only one questioning the timing - head coach Pete Carroll cited a nagging knee injury, but the move conveniently comes just before a high-stakes ‘Tank Bowl’ against the New York Giants.

“He’s been fighting this knee issue for nine weeks... it just looked too bad,” Carroll told reporters. “He didn’t want to take the news like that. He knows he’s banged up. He said, ‘I’d like to get out of here,’ and I said, ‘Yeah, get out of here,’ so he took off.”

However, the Giants are also 2-13 and occupy the bottom of the standings, so the loser of Sunday’s game at Allegiant Stadium is in pole position for the top pick.

The Raiders and Giants look the most desperate for a quarterback reset, with prospects like Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore looming as the prizes for failure.

Pete Carroll is quietly trying to defuse the situation, claiming a ‘duty of care’ for his best player, but the decision has triggered accusations of tanking across the league.

Maxx Crosby will be furious to be sitting out but the front office clearly values draft position over a meaningless win, even if it risks fracturing the relationship with their team leader.

FOX Sports insider Jay Glazer reported that Crosby “vehemently disagreed” with the decision on Friday morning, with witnesses seeing the two-time All-Pro leaving the building shortly after.

Carroll says he agrees ‘1,000 percent’ with Crosby’s passion, but you have to wonder if the damage has already been done.

“It was exactly like you would think he would do,” Carroll said. “And I agree with him a 1000% how he responded.”

Nobody expected the Raiders to be this bad under Carroll, but losing nine straight games has put them in a position where winning is actually a penalty.

It all came to a head this week, with Crosby wanting to play through the pain as he always does, while the management has one eye firmly on 2026.

And could the tide finally be turning on Crosby’s time in Las Vegas? The defensive end has been the heart of the defence since 2019 but this rift could lead to a trade request in the offseason.

The Raiders will need to smooth things over quickly, but the signs are worrying at least.

The one bright spot for rival teams is that Crosby’s contract is surprisingly tradeable this year, despite owner Mark Davis insisting he isn’t for sale.

Financial analysis shows the Raiders would take a mere $5.1 million dead cap hit to move him, which is peanuts for a player of his calibre.

It’s almost unthinkable, but a growing possibility.

It’s all happening in the front office, as the contract structure effectively creates a ‘pay-as-you-go’ model for any team looking to acquire an elite pass rusher.

A new team would inherit a fully guaranteed salary in 2026, followed by team options, so you wouldn’t be surprised if the phone starts ringing.

Crosby’s certainly fun to watch, even if the Raiders don’t want us to see him this Sunday.

So, as it stands, the Raiders are playing for the future, but only a brave man would bet against this ending in a messy divorce.

The Giants and Raiders will fight it out for the bottom spot, while Crosby watches from the sidelines with the rest of us.

It’s a dangerous game to play as Silver and Black head into the final stretch of the campaign.