At his introductory press conference, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew discussed his first meeting with defensive end Maxx Crosby after the two were involved in some viral trash talk during the 2023 season.
"Sure enough, I saw him," Minshew said on Thursday, per Bobby Kownack of NFL.com. "He's a big ass boy is what he is. God dang. It's awesome. Those are guys, you know, not as much fun to play against, but if they're on your team, I absolutely love it."
Before he signed a two-year deal with the Raiders worth $25 million in free agency, the 27-year-old passer started 13 games for the Indianapolis Colts in 2023. When Indianapolis hosted Las Vegas in Week 17, Crosby was seen calling Minshew a "little ass boy" on Inside the NFL.
NFL @NFL.<a href="">@CrosbyMaxx</a> was not holding back on the trash talk to <a href="">@GardnerMinshew5</a>. 😂<br><br>"Dude, Maxx Crosby is so damn angry."<a href="">@InsideTheNFL</a> streaming now on <a href="">@TheCW</a> app <a href="">
Crosby has developed into one of the NFL's top pass-rushers over the past three seasons, racking up 35 sacks and making the Pro Bowl in each year. In 2023, his 23 tackles for loss were tied for the league lead while he finished No. 4 in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Minshew was excited to join forces with Crosby as well as defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who agreed to a four-year deal with the organization worth $110 million after spending the first five years of his career with the Miami Dolphins.
"Excited to be with him, Christian, some of the best s--t talkers I've been around in the NFL," he said, via Kownack. "To have them on our side, to practice against them every day, it's just going to make me better. I'm super excited about it."
Minshew is expected to compete with Aidan O'Connell for the starting quarterback job as the Raiders will attempt to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season.
