For Raiders' Maxx Crosby, Mental Preparation is Just as Critical as Physical

The Las Vegas Raiders have one of the best defensive ends in the league, Maxx Crosby, who constantly works to stay physically prepared to play at a high level. Crosby believes the mental aspect of football is just as important as the physical.

The Las Vegas Raiders have one of the most physically gifted players in the league on their defensive line, Maxx Crosby.

The veteran defensive lineman is well-known and well-respected because of his motor. Crosby plays the game at a relentless pace that is nearly unmatched by any other defensive lineman in the league. While Crosby is known for how well he prepares himself mentally to play at a high level, he also believes mental preparation is just as necessary as physical preparation.

“I feel like the mental part of it is even more important than the physical,” Crosby told media members on Monday. “Like I've said a million times, but this game has a ton of talented dudes, a ton of dudes that can run 4.4s, 4.3s, jump off the roof, lift, do 40 reps on 225.

“All that stuff is irrelevant when it really comes down to it. The mental side of the game is honestly more important. It's what's taken me to the next level, and it's true confidence. It's feeding your brain and building your day-to-day routine to something that's elite of elite.”

Crosby, who often uses catchphrases to explain his mentality, said the phrases he often shares are more than just sayings. They are ways of life for him.

“And that's why I always talk about '1%' or 'more as required,' and I always say these things, and I put it on every post, and I put it out there, and people could think whatever they want, or think it's cliché or just talk, but it's what I live," Crosby said. "I see it everywhere I go. I put it on the back of my phone. I put it in my mirror. I put it in my cars. I put it everywhere because you have to constantly train your mind for greatness. It doesn't just happen overnight.

“You have to constantly feed your mind with positive and real breakdowns of where you're at and where you're going. And two of the greatest coaches I've ever had, Rich Bisaccia and Rod Marinelli, they always talked about, and they still talk to me about this to this day, about the microscope and the telescope.

“The microscope's your day-to-day; your 99% of the time, you're in today. All you're worried about is my workout today — recovery when I'm done, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. The telescope is the far. It's where I know I'm going. But at the end of the day, you can't get there without the microscope, being in the day-to-day process, and continuously getting better on a daily basis.”

Crosby said his mental focus fuels the goals he wants to attain in his career.

“So, you have to keep that in the back of your mind,” Crosby said. “I know where I want to go. I've said it publicly: I want to be a Hall of Famer. I want to win a Super Bowl; I want to be the best ever to do it, period, and that's my telescope. But the microscope is what's most important. So yeah, I'm constantly training my mind.”

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.

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