Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby said he was “livid” and “confused” after a proposed trade to the Baltimore Ravens collapsed because of medical concerns during his physical.
Crosby discussed the situation on his podcast, “The Rush,” explaining how a deal that would have sent him to Baltimore for two first-round picks fell apart after the Ravens evaluated his knee.
“No one will ever admit what the real truth is. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. I am where I’m supposed to be,” Crosby said on the podcast.
The situation highlighted a lesser-known but critical step in every NFL transaction: the physical examination. According to a new report from The Athletic, the results of Crosby’s medical evaluation ultimately caused the Ravens to back out of the trade agreement.
Maxx Crosby Details Ravens Physical Experience
Crosby described the experience as a whirlwind after learning the Raiders were close to trading him following seven seasons with the team.
The defensive end traveled to Washington, D.C., before undergoing medical testing tied to the trade.
On “The Rush,” Crosby said he expected to meet Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta when he arrived but did not see him for several hours.
“I thought I was going to see [DeCosta] when I first got there. I don’t know why. I’m not going to speculate,” Crosby said. “He just made the trade, and I didn’t see him for five hours.”
Crosby said he underwent a physical examination and an MRI as part of the process.
Before leaving the facility, Crosby met with Ravens head coach Jesse Minter and DeCosta. He said the atmosphere during the meeting felt unusual.
“I dapped up [Minter], and he had a blank face,” Crosby said.
Crosby said DeCosta then informed him that one of the team doctors had concerns about his knee and wanted additional medical opinions.
“That’s a lot on your mental,” Crosby said. “… At that moment, I was scared.”
Crosby underwent surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. He previously played through the injury during the season before the Raiders shut him down for the final two games.
What Happens During an NFL Physical?
The situation drew attention to the medical process behind every NFL player acquisition.
According to The Athletic, the standard steps of an NFL physical are outlined in Appendix K of the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association.
The evaluation includes a wide range of medical tests designed to assess both immediate health and long-term injury risk.
A standard physical can include:
- General medical evaluation
- Orthopedic examination
- Flexibility testing
- EKG and echocardiography
- Blood testing
- Neuropsychological testing
- Urinalysis
- Vision and hearing exams
- Dental exams
- Chest X-rays and additional scans when necessary
These evaluations help teams determine whether a player can safely perform at the NFL level and fulfill the terms of a contract.
NFL Team Doctors Focus on Injury Risk and Overall Health
Getty(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Dr. Ashwin Rao, a board member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and former team physician for the Seattle Seahawks, explained that the physical has two primary goals.
The first is reviewing the player’s overall health history. The second focuses on orthopedic evaluation, which examines injuries and potential risks.
The medical evaluation includes testing for cardiovascular health and other conditions that could affect a player’s career.
At the NFL scouting combine, players undergo EKG testing to measure the electrical signals in the heart. Blood tests can also reveal potential health concerns, such as kidney function.
The orthopedic portion of the physical focuses heavily on injuries.
“You can imagine if somebody had multiple ACL tears in their knee, we’d want to assess the quality of what their knee looks like because it may have an impact on how long they can participate in a sport as intense as football,” Rao said.
Doctors may use imaging tools such as MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays to evaluate joints, bones, and ligaments.
Why Different NFL Teams May View a Physical Differently
After the medical tests are complete, team physicians present their findings to team executives and decision-makers.
According to Rao, the results are not delivered as a simple pass-or-fail grade.
“It’s not necessarily an A, B, or C grade,” Rao said. “But it’s a perspective that is shared about whether this person is going to be able to handle the rigors of an NFL season or multiple NFL seasons.”
Different teams may interpret the same medical data differently depending on their risk tolerance, contract terms, and long-term roster strategy.
Rao said those differences likely played a role in Crosby’s situation.
“From my standpoint as an outside observer, I just assumed that the Raiders and the Ravens had different perspectives on the health of Maxx’s knee,” Rao said.
For Crosby, the trade ultimately fell apart because of those medical concerns.
His surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, later told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Crosby is progressing well in recovery and is expected to be ready by training camp in July.
Maxx Crosby, Ravens Trade Debacle: What Actually Happens During an NFL Physical