Twenty years ago, the Dolphins wanted to sign Drew Brees in free agency. Miami’s doctor decided that Brees, who had offseason shoulder surgery, couldn’t pass a physical.
Dolphins coach Nick Saban later complained about the faculties of the physician that failed Brees on the physical: “That doctor didn’t know his ass from a handful of sand.”
On Tuesday, the Ravens’ decision not to proceed with the Maxx Crosby trade was based on input from multiple physicians.
Said Adam Schefter of ESPN last night: “My understanding is there were multiple doctors that reviewed his MRI scans. There were doctors that examined him — including Dr. Daniel Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys’ doctor, that performed surgery on Patrick Mahomes and Malik Nabors. Many teams, and players rely on Dr. Cooper’s expertise, and Dr. Cooper was one of the doctors that reviewed the images, where the Ravens then felt compelled to back out of this trade.”
Dr. Cooper, who can be seen wearing a cowboy hat on the sidelines at Cowboys games, has essentially become this generation’s Dr. James Andrews — the go-to physician for knee injuries. (Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed Crosby’s surgery, would dispute that.)
Dr. Cooper, whose involvement helps explain the Cowboys not re-engaging on trade talks, clearly knows his ass from a handful of sand. So this wasn’t a situation where a doctor went rogue — or where a doctor received a wink-nod because the Ravens were looking for a way out.
It’s still a complicated situation. Obviously, Crosby wouldn’t pass a physical based on whether he can practice or play today. The medical judgment entails a projection as to whether he’ll pass in the future.
That alone should have been a bright red flag regarding trade terms that were contingent on Crosby passing a physical. For the Ravens — who have never given up a first-round pick for a player — to give up the 14th overall pick in the 2026 draft and next year’s first-round selection, they need to be sure that they’ll get a return on the investment. Especially if Crosby and/or his agents expected a contract adjustment on the way through the door.
None of this means Crosby won’t be healthy by Week 1. He could be. And the situation in Baltimore could motivate him to have 20 sacks in 2026.
Regardless, the Ravens opted to be careful. They, per Schefter, sought multiple opinions. And they didn’t really “back out” of anything. They exercised their prerogative based on the medical judgments to not proceed with the transaction.
The biggest news of Tuesday night was that the Ravens have backed out of trading for Maxx Crosby and Wednesday’s major headlines is expected to include news on another top-flight pass rusher.
According to multiple reports, expectation around the league is that Trey Hendrickson will be making his decision about his next team on Wednesday. The Crosby trade falling apart could factor into that choice.
Dianna Russini of TheAthletic.com reports that the Ravens have joined the Eagles and Colts in the mix for Hendrickson’s services. Albert Breer of SI.com adds the Cowboys to the list of teams keeping tabs on where things stand with Hendrickson and notes that the Ravens making a big push for Hendrickson would “bolster suspicions some teams have” that the Crosby decision was not solely based on the state of his surgically repaired knee.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported this week that there was a gap of around $10 million per year between what Hendrickson was looking for and the offers he was receiving since the negotiating window opened on Monday. The Crosby news may have helped close that gap by increasing the competition for his services and a fuller picture of how things are playing out could come in the near future.
The well-traveled Sam Howell will be traveling again.
Via Adam Schefter of ESPN, the former Eagles backup quarterback has agreed to terms with the Cowboys.
A fifth-round pick of the Commanders in 2022, Howell was the full-year starter in 2023, leading the league in both attempts (612) and interceptions (21). He was traded to the Seahawks in 2024.
Last year, Seattle traded Howell to the Vikings. After the preseason, he was re-traded to the Eagles.
The current Cowboys understudy to Dak Prescott is Joe Milton III. The Howell arrival suggests that Will Grier won’t be back as the third quarterback. Or it could set up a potential trade of Milton, who is under contract through 2027.
The Cowboys are receiving calls about the availability of defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
The 49ers are one of the teams to call the Cowboys, per Harris.
San Francisco hired former Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as the assistant head coach of defense.
Odighizuwa signed a four-year, $80 million contract last offseason before the Cowboys traded for defensive tackles Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams. On Tuesday, they signed nose tackle Otito Ogbonnia.
Although the Cowboys restructured several deals, Odighizuwa’s contract was not touched.
He has a cap number of $20.75 million for this season.
The Cowboys were in on Maxx Crosby, before he was tentatively traded to the Ravens.
They’re now out.
Per multiple reports, the Cowboys won’t re-engage the Raiders for a possible trade for Crosby.
Via Jane Slater of NFL Media, an unnamed team source said “we’ve moved on with Rashan Gary.”
And while, yes, the Cowboys did indeed trade for the former Packers edge rusher, this is Maxx Crosby we’re talking about. All due respect to Rashan Gary, but it’s Maxx Freakin’ Crosby.
The Cowboys could be setting the stage to squeeze the Raiders, if they get desperate to move him, now that their best offer has evaporated like a puddle of piss in the Patagonian Desert.
For now, though, the Cowboys have officially moved on from a possible Maxx Crosby trade.
