Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has shared his side of the nixed Maxx Crosby trade.
The Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders had agreed to a blockbuster trade last Friday that would have sent Crosby to Baltimore for two first-round picks.
However, the Raiders announced on Tuesday that the Ravens had "back out" of the trade and reports indicated Crosby had failed his physical. The Ravens then pivoted and signed edge Trey Hendrickson to a four-year deal.
Speaking to media on Wednesday, DeCosta declined to get into specifics about the physical but said he was "disappointed" the trade didn't go through.
"We were really excited about potentially adding Maxx," DeCosta said. "Nobody is more disappointed than me, (he's) a player I greatly admire.
"I know our fans are upset and devastated, I understand that. Tough, tough situation. But I think for the Ravens, the right situation. My role as GM, and Jesse [Minter's] role as head coach, and Sashi [Brown's] role as president, stewards of the organization, we have to make tough calls, and this was certainly a tough call to make."
Crosby is one of the most feared pass-rushers in the sport and has recorded at least 20 QB hits in each of the last five seasons. In 15 games last season he had 10 sacks, 20 QB hits and 73 total tackles.
However, the 28-year-old had surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee. His recovery from that injury is presumably what led the Ravens to change their mind
"It's devastating for me to have that conversation," DeCosta said. "I'm sure it was challenging for them to hear as well. It's also very, very, very, very hard for the player to hear that. It's probably hardest for (Crosby), more than anybody else.
"As I said at the beginning, we've got a responsibility — I've got a responsibility — to the Ravens, to this community, to our fans and to (owner) Steve Bisciotti to do what we think is best for the club. Nobody is more upset about this than me. I am gutted by it, actually… But, we will move on as a football team."
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