Maxx Crosby on Life Changing Pivot, Raiders QBs, Being a Girl Dad, Influence of Kobe & Mike Tyson

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find Considered one of the best Defensive Ends in the game, Maxx Crosby’s journey to becoming a household name is more than just hard work on the field, it’s the humility and dedication as a man that truly makes his story inspirational. The guys sit down for a conversation that hits home for all of us as we all have moments in life we aren’t proud of or we try to keep hidden, but releasing the attachments and learning from the dark times is what makes the brighter days so meaningful. Opening up about the tough times of addiction, how it affected his game, his relationships, his family- Maxx takes us through the moments that led to him the life changing pivot and how he’s faced adversity head on and has come out even stronger on the other side. Extremely difficult to imagine and re-live, listening to Maxx’s story gives a new perspective of beating the odds and rooting for the good guy. Coming up on three years of sobriety in March, Maxx highlights that as a proud moment but becoming a father to his daughter Ella is truly the pivotal moment in his life that has brought everything full circle. Maxx raves about being a girl dad in good company with Ryan, Fred and Channing who all know the feeling and also expresses intimate gratitude to his wife Rachel who has stood by his side through it all. Despite his addiction, Max performed at a high level on the field which often tricked him into believing he didn’t have a problem. But now with a clear heart, Maxx has taken his ability to another level and shares in the confidence that he can be one do the best to ever play the game at his position. After a difficult season, Maxx talks about all the changes this off-season and what the Raiders need to do to be back in playoff contention this coming year, starting with finding a new QB. Tune in now to hear Maxx’s thoughts on what the key steps are this off-season for him and his teammates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:01Speaker 00

  This episode is brought to you by Michelob Ultra. Good times mean competitions between you and your friends. Like seeing who can throw some pigskin the farthest, or rush the field the fastest. Winner gets an ultra. Because it's not just a superior light beer, it's also giving fans superior access to their favorite sporting events. Superior is worth playing for. Visit michelobultra.com/superioraccess to enter. Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2026 Anheuser Busch InBev Michelob Ultra Beer, St. Louis, Missouri.

• 0:31Channing Crowder?

  That's Big Dog.

• 0:32Ryan Clark?

  What up, dawg?

• 0:33Channing Crowder?

  Man, who's that?

• 0:33Ryan Clark?

  My boy. Who is it?

• 0:35Channing Crowder?

  Good to see you too.

• 0:36Fred Taylor?

  Hey, good to see you, baby. I ain't getting the memo, dawg. Everybody else got on all black except me. I'm mixing something. Good to see y'all.

• 0:44Ryan Clark?

  Good to see you. You know what, though? It's good you got on different colors today, though, man. You mixing it up.

• 0:48Fred Taylor?

  For sure. Because I am the all-black.

• 0:50Ryan Clark?

  You a all-black king.

• 0:51Fred Taylor?

  Ooh.

• 0:55Channing Crowder?

  Hey, Freddie, what's that saying? Can't have money.

• 0:59Fred Taylor?

  About nothing else. That paddock? I appreciate it. That's what I'm talking about.

• 1:04Ryan Clark?

  You see Freddie T? That's so high-end for me. I ain't even know what it was.

• 1:08Fred Taylor?

  Oh, that's the Big Dog.

• 1:09Ryan Clark?

  Yeah. Hey, I mean, when you earn the money, though, you're supposed to take care of yourself.

• 1:37Ryan Clark?

  We done it once. People don't know that. We done it one time, but we feel like we didn't do it in the right way to do you the justice that you deserve. We got Chan here, Freddie T. I'm RC. Welcome to the Pivot. A lot of people know Maxx Crosby's story, know how huge of a pivot that he's had to make in life, the adversities he's come through. And I think that story has been told to our partners at Happy Dads. We appreciate y'all, to all the subscribers. I don't want to drag through that story necessarily. I am a big fan of October babies. I was born on October 12th, 1979. So, real close to a date that's going to be special to you. For the rest of your life. Ella Rose was born on October 13th, 2022.

• 2:22Ryan Clark?

  I've gotten pictures of you just texting, checking on you throughout the season. It's just you being in a happy place, no matter what was going on. Because you had that purpose now of being a father. What have these months with your baby meant to you?

• 2:38Speaker 04

  Honestly, it's been incredible. You know, obviously during the season, there's a lot going on. And it's just like another part of the journey, you know? Having a child, like the bye week was lined up perfectly, you know, luckily. But just being able to, you know, have to come home. I'm gone for 14 hours a day of football and then I gotta be a dad. And just dealing with all that and learning how to, you know, take care of my family, you know? Be there, you know, for my daughter, doing a little heavy lifting, you know, every day. And I think that's just, you know, a testament to Rachel, being there, taking care of her. And just us coming together closer, because it's not easy, you know? You know how it is. It's an everyday, you know, everyday process.

• 3:21Speaker 04

  So, yeah, you know, that was a big challenge, but it's been incredible, you know? I've been there every day with this husband.

• 3:28Fred Taylor?

  If you ever need any notes, we all are girl dads. But this guy, we out here grinding, right? We working our butts off. This guy, he leaves, he goes to his daddy-daughter dance. And he comes back to chop it up with you. So, personal note, this is the girl dad goat right here.

• 3:48Channing Crowder?

  The sacrifice it takes to the baby. Yeah, man, you wild. That's why I think they're trying to keep us apart, because I'm a little wild, a little bit too mad. But it's funny that Fred brings up the girl dad thing, because my daughter, and I'm sure your daughter, like, they love you to death.

• 4:01Speaker 04

  Oh, yeah.

• 4:02Channing Crowder?

  I do not want my daughter to marry a guy like me.

• 4:05Speaker 04

  No.

• 4:06Channing Crowder?

  You know what I'm saying? Have you thought about that? Because my daughter, she just turned 10. Have you thought about that? Like, she's gonna love me to death, know me, but I don't want her to marry me.

• 4:13Speaker 04

  No. Yeah, see, at the end of the day, like, that's something I always thought about. You know, what is it gonna be like when my daughter brings somebody to the house? She's only four months, so I haven't really thought about, you know? I haven't gotten that far. But, yeah, you know, I feel like God works in mysterious ways and... I feel like guys like us, you know, we have, we have daughters for a reason. It changed our perspective, so that's kind of the way I looked at it. Because when I found out Rachel was pregnant, I was like, I'm having a boy. Like, I was trying to manifest that I'm doing it. And Rachel was like, it's a girl. And I kind of like, deep down, I kind of like, knew it was gonna be like that. So, I feel like things work out for a reason and, you know, it's definitely opened my eyes a lot, for sure.

• 4:52Fred Taylor?

  Hey, Max, you said before that you put Rachel through hell. How much, in your journey, how much credit do you give her? For, now that she's the mom, loving your life, how much credit do you give her for your success?

• 5:04Speaker 04

  A ton. I was just having this conversation a couple of days ago. You know, we obviously, we've had a million ups and downs and, you know, I went through it all. She went through my addiction, she was there through everything. You know, it's funny, I give her a ton of credit because when I first met her, like, I was wild as hell in college, just partying, doing my thing, and she helped change my direction of my, you know, career, my future. You know, she helped me, she was cooking me meals and bringing them to me in the morning, so I could have meal prep and shit like that when I, I didn't even have the money to make, you know, make food. So, she was just trying to help me and then, you know, she was two years older. So, once she graduated, I was still at Eastern and she decided, you know, she made the sacrifice for me

• 5:47Speaker 04

  to stay with me and help me out. And she was working full-time and basically, you know, helping pay bills and...

• 5:54Ryan Clark?

  Take care of you.

• 5:55Speaker 04

  I didn't have, you know, I didn't have shit. So, we were sleeping on a damn mattress on the floor, like, that's when we first met. So, yeah, we've been through it all together and I appreciate, you know, everything she brings to the table. She's, she's a keeper, for sure.

• 6:09Ryan Clark?

  She has a quote that she felt like she was screaming down a dark hallway with you and people were just telling her to deal with it. And I'm sure that has to be a very difficult place to be in, but you speaking about where you guys started and now you're drafted and you run her up to the Rookie of the Year. Everything from the outside, the way you play the game, the intensity in which you approach it, the discipline you have when it comes to doing your job on the field, it makes people think, well, this young man has everything in order. You kind of alluded to what it's like to have a 14-hour workday and then come home and be a father. Where you were burning the candles at different ends in your rookie season. How are you able to keep...

• 6:54Ryan Clark?

  Everything together, bro. Living like that at night and then putting out that sort of output on the field.

• 7:01Speaker 04

  Yeah, you know, honestly, I don't know how the hell I did it. To be honest, looking back now, like, I have such a wild, crazy routine and I'm, you know, from even a teammate's perspective and coaches, they're like, "Go home." Like, I'm already training right now. I'm already two weeks into training, so like, I'm so obsessed with that, like, just being the best player I can be and perfecting what I do. So, that shit isn't, that shit isn't hard to me because I know what hard is. Like, hard is waking up, staying out all night, hung the [bleep] over and struggling to get out of bed and then trying to operate on a daily basis in a, in a football building and, you know what I mean? It's just like, it was impossible. Like, I was literally just running on fumes all the time.

• 7:45Speaker 04

  So now, like, my routine is so tightly wound that it's just, I don't know any other way. And, you know, looking back, like, I really, I don't know how I got through it, but I did. I found a way. I was still able to produce, but deep down, I knew, like, I wasn't the best I can be and I knew it wasn't gonna last. So it just, it got to a point where it was like, alright, I'm either gonna keep doing this shit and be, you know, a cool story and, you know, Max made it from Eastern, or I can go and be the best at what I do in the world. And that's what I feel like I'm doing right now and I still got work to do, but that's my goal. You know, I wanna be the best in the world and that's, that's why I push myself the way I do.

• 8:26Ryan Clark?

  I get opportunity to watch every game. You know, I'd just shoot you a text. Even when things weren't going great for the team this year, I was like, "Dog, you're doing your thing." And he was like, "No, I got more. I got more." And speaking of living the life you were, you saying, coming to work and being hung over and doing those different things, and now speaking or talking about working out already or what your, your day is like, people telling you to go home. People with addictive personalities, like, I kinda have a personality like that too. Like, I get fixated on things and I have to replace certain habits with others if I want to come out of those old habits. Have you, has your focus on football heightened since?

• 9:09Channing Crowder?

  Working through your addiction.

• 9:11Speaker 04

  Yeah, it's gone to a whole different level. Like when I was, like I've never loved football as much as I do now. Just because the attention to detail that I have now, all my attention, like you said, it's all on one thing. Like this window in the league is not that long. If you play 15 years, it's still, that's not a long time in the grand scheme of things. So, yeah, like after my second year, once I got shit clean and I started like seeing the bigger picture, it gave me the opportunity to just, alright, I'm gonna give everything I got into this and we'll see where it takes me. And literally just in two years, I went from, you know, a middle of the road DN to an all pro. I feel like I'm just getting started, so that's the thrill for me now. It's not going out to the club until 3 a.m. It's now, it's like, how good can I possibly be?

• 9:55Speaker 04

  Because nobody would ever thought what I did, you know, what I've done so far, just in four years. And the crazy thing is like I'm, deep down, I know I got so much more to give. And that's, that's my, you know, my purpose, my challenge every day.

• 10:08Channing Crowder?

  And man, as the story reads, it was one night that changed it. You woke up in the morning looking in the mirror and you just knew a change had to happen. How crazy was that night? Because I had, you know, I was partying and all, probably had alcohol problem that I didn't address at the time. But even in college, man, I'm getting, I got locked up twice, got arrested four times. Waking up, you know what I'm saying, throwing up, doing, you know, doing ladders up, up, uh, up UF Stadium. Because I'm drunk, I'm throwing up Hennessy. Like, and none of that ever clicked to me. It never clicked to me. I'm sure you had some long days. Why did that morning click to you?

• 10:42Speaker 04

  Honestly, it was like an accumulation of like four or five days. Like I, I, it's funny, like I talked, I called my agent, I called Rachel. And this was like two weeks before and I called them, I'm like, listen, I need to get help. Like I need, I don't know what I gotta do, but like y'all gotta help me out. Like this shit ain't, this shit ain't working. I talked to them. I was sober for like 10 days, just like strong-arming it, basically. And I was just in Vegas alone, basically, and I was kind of just waiting for this guy. He's one of the best people I know, Scotty. He was gonna come, like on Tuesday, and come see me. Like, he basically does interventions, things like that. And he was gonna come talk to me, and I didn't know if he was just gonna take me straight to rehab. I didn't know what it was gonna be. He was coming on Tuesday, and it was a Saturday.

• 11:28Speaker 04

  And I was just gonna chill in the house, just, you know, whatever. And then, there was a UFC fight that night. And I was like, I got tickets, front row. Like, I was contemplating back and forth, but I kind of knew deep down, like, I probably shouldn't go. And, it was, like I said, I was 10 days sober. I went to the UFC fight, had one drink, and then it turned to like four or five days straight, until Scotty got there on Tuesday. He basically kidnapped my ass, and I was like fucked up. And I was out all weekend in Vegas, doing crazy shit, just all over the place. So, yeah, I woke up that morning, like, my body, like, physically, I was like, just dehydrated, felt terrible, like, the worst of the worst.

• 12:10Speaker 04

  Like, I felt like I was dying. So, like, it got that bad. And it's just scary. Like, that shit is crazy. I never felt like that before. I looked in the mirror and like, didn't even fucking recognize myself. So, that was where it got to a point, like, what am I doing? Like, this shit is not gonna last. And, yeah, it just kind of clicked for me at that moment.

• 12:27Fred Taylor?

  March 11, 2020. You checking the rehab. Fast forward, two years later, you sign a stupid ass. The Raiders couldn't give you six more million to make it 100, bro?

• 12:40Speaker 04

  Yeah, you know, that was a hard concept.

• 12:43Fred Taylor?

  Maybe even four more to match a number. But you sign the deal, a multi-year extension, two years after you check yourself in rehab, on the exact same date. You know, and we've seen guys get all this money, and some guys can fall into complacency, you know, and just kind of, I'm good, I'm set for life. How do you stay motivated and not slip back along that path that you just spoke about? You know, those times in Vegas?

• 13:11Speaker 04

  Like I said, God works in mysterious ways. Like, I didn't plan, like, we didn't plan it to be, you know, I'ma sign my contract on the day I got sober. It just happened to be, we were in negotiations for about a week straight. And the night before, I get a call from my agent. We got it. Boom, we're at a good place. He broke it down to me, I'm like, let's do it. Like, I'm with it. So, it just happened to be the next day was the day I got sober. So, I didn't, like, publicly, I didn't go out and say, yo, I'm signing this deal. Like, I literally just posted my sobriety day. So, that was like a big deal. And then, like, two hours later, I end up signing, and they announced it and everything. But, you know, the thing about the complacency part, like I said, like, that's another challenge for me.

• 13:54Speaker 04

  And I feel like from the outside world, like, everybody expects the guy that gets paid, like, okay, now he's gonna just chill. And I feel like that's a common theme in professional sports. Guys get their bag and they chill out. And for me, it's like, I don't play for the money. Like, the money is amazing, I love it. I'm set, my kids are set, she go whatever school she wants to. That, all that's amazing. But at the end of the day, I love football. Like, there's nothing more, you know, anything on earth besides my daughter that, you know, I love more than football. Um, I give, this game has literally given me everything. And I, and I truly, like, I'm a Rod Marinelli product, so, like, I truly appreciate the shit. You know, from the 1960s, like, I have books that he gives me from the 50s and 60s and

• 14:39Speaker 04

  makes me read the shit, just to appreciate what football is all about. Cause, at the end of the day, like, if you put in all the work and you do all this shit right, I feel like the football gods reward you. It's just like anything else. If you're LeBron James, there's a reason why he just broke the record, cause he's been putting in the work when nobody's looking. And like, that's what it's all about for me, is giving the respect to the game, because that shit comes back twofold, and I truly believe in that. So, yeah, going into last season, like, that was a challenge in my head. I'm like, I know from the outside world, they don't think I'm gonna go out and go crazier than I already did. Like, people thought I hit my, you know, my peak when I had 100 pressures and all this shit, but I'm like, I know I can be better. And so, this season, that's what it was all about for me. I went out and did my thing, and like, from an individual perspective.

• 15:24Speaker 04

  But like, it's tough on top of it when we're losing. So, it's like, you don't get all the flowers, but deep down, like, I'm, shit, Alexis, who works with me every day, she, she walked into the apartment, I'm watching my game film this morning, just like... That's how much I put into it. Like, I truly, like, I put everything into it and I want to be the best. And like, at the end of the day, if I don't become it, you know, become the number one guy, like, undisputed, I know I'm gonna do, you know, everything I do to get to that point. So, yeah, just about paying respect to the game.

• 15:57Ryan Clark?

  You know, and listening to you, obviously, talking about your daughter. Your daughter, also, the work you put into the game and the love you have for it. The question many athletes get is, what's your why? And your story, to me, is so much bigger than the why to play football. Channing mentioned the night and you explained how you got to the point where it was, okay, you got kidnapped by Scottie and it was time on March 11th, 2020, to make it right. But at that point, you had football, which you obviously love. You'd been with Rachel. What was the final why that said, I have to get myself together

• 16:42Ryan Clark?

  in order to accomplish all of these other things that I want?

• 16:46Speaker 04

  You know, for me, like, you know, I'm not a super religious guy or anything like that, but I truly believe, you know, there's something out there bigger than me. You know, I believe in a higher power. I believe that things happen for a reason. And that's kind of what opened my eyes. Like, I feel like everybody's put in certain positions and it's like a test. You know, every single day is a test. There's gonna be certain shit that comes at you and you can react however you want to react. And, you know, for me, I feel like my purpose is, like you said, not only to play football, but be an example for kids that are going through the same shit I went through. And that's something I really had to look myself in the mirror and be like, listen, this is not just about me. Like, there's kids, like, I don't even realize it sometimes. Like, I'm a homebody, I'm in the house all the time.

• 17:31Speaker 04

  But like, just going out, like, this past weekend, like, I couldn't even walk to a casino because 100 kids are running up and wanting, you know, to sign their jerseys and shit like that. And they're telling me, you know, there's grown-ass men that come up to me 50 years old, they're like, listen, man, I literally got sober because of you. You have no idea how much you mean to me. Like, that's the shit. That's just bigger than football for me. So yeah, my purpose is, you know, I don't, I don't even think I'm close to, you know, where I'm gonna be is just a, you know, as a man, an individual, and I don't know how big it can go. But every single day, I'm gonna just keep making deposits and, and keep building what I'm doing because I know it's helping people out there. I know my story has touched, you know, thousands of people.

• 18:12Speaker 04

  And I just want to keep doing that and, and set the example, not only as a player, but as a, you know, as just a, as an individual and somebody who overcame a lot of shit.

• 18:21Channing Crowder?

  Football was, was a big piece of the change, a big cog in the change. I would say it also enables people.

• 18:30Speaker 00

  This episode is brought to you by Michelob Ultra. Good times mean competitions between you and your friends, like seeing who can throw some pigskin the farthest or rush the field the fastest. Winner gets an ultra. Because it's not just a superior like beer, it's also giving fans superior access to their favorite sporting events. Superior is worth playing for. Visit michelobultra.com/superioraccess to enter. Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2026 Anheuser-Busch InBev Michelob Ultra Beer, St. Louis, Missouri.

• 18:58Channing Crowder?

  Because I would say to my point, getting arrested, but then when I go sit up with, you know, the chief police of Gainesville and the head coach and the AD at Florida, they're talking about football still. Hey, he's suspended two games. I need him week two against Tennessee. I'm, I'm watching this go on and I'm like, Tennessee game is bigger than disciplining me for what I just did? And then I would look at it and say, hey, you know, I get in trouble, get arrested, but I'm still an All-American. I'm still All-SEC. You know, I can't be that, I can't be that bad off because of how successful I am off the field. Have you ever, do you ever think that way when you were going through a problem? Like, I can't, I can't be an alcoholic. I'm ballin'.

• 19:34Speaker 04

  No, it's facts. Like, and that's the, I feel like just as a younger guy, like I was 19 years old, like I, I thought I had the whole world figured out and I thought, you know, I was untouchable. But I feel like that's just, you know, at that age, like, when you're having all that success. Then you have, you know, friends and family like, oh no, you're good. Wow, wow, you're doing great. I'm like, alright, I'm good. But deep down, I know I'm fucked up. Like, that's like the hardest part is because you're trying to like balance that and just try to put on a, an act basically, thinking you're fine. But like, deep down, I think everyone knows, you know, what's going on with you. Why, you know, why is my mood bad on this day? Like, you just know, everybody's got deep down issues and you gotta deal with it. You know, how you gotta deal with it.

• 20:16Speaker 04

  But I feel like that's just a part of, you know, maturing is just realizing, fuck everybody else, you know, respectfully, fuck everybody else. You gotta really look out for yourself at the end of the day and take care of yourself, you know, before anything. Because I can't have a great relationship with my daughter if I'm fucked up and in my feelings and hiding shit. I can't have a great relationship with Rachel if I'm fucking around and being a dickhead. Like, it's, it all ties together. So, you know, for me, I feel like just, that's, that's just the biggest part of, you know, maturation is just looking yourself in the mirror and realizing like, okay, I definitely, you know, I got issues, I gotta address them and, you know, just learn from it.

• 20:52Fred Taylor?

  Hey Max, you spoke about balancing acts and dealing with issues. And I also recall you saying that your addiction was caused by social anxiety. You know, and then you speak about the kids running up on you, the fans running up on you, which can bring social anxiety to the forefront. How are you managing that these days?

• 21:10Speaker 04

  Honestly, it's funny because like as a kid, like my brother was, was the star. You know, my brother was a tall, skinny, handsome dude, got every girl. I was a middle child, red hair, chubby, didn't play, you know, I, nobody fucked with me. So I'm like, fuck that. I was mad at my brother. You know what I mean? For no reason, because he was the man. And so like, that's like a part of it, like how I started drinking was just trying to fit in. And, and it just made me more confident. So it was like that liquid courage everyone talks about, like, that's kind of how it started for me. So nowadays, like I'm so, I'm about to be three years sober next month and... Like you said, walking through a casino, I have all these kids coming up and shit like that.

• 21:50Speaker 04

  It's like, in my head, you know, my ego, like, deep down, it's like the coolest thing ever, but at the same time, like, I feel like I don't deserve it. Like, that's a part of my, like, growth as a person, is just like, understanding, like, I earned a lot of the shit I do. I work endlessly, you know, for everything I have, and I'm the first one to give, you know, take care of people and give out, and like, sometimes I feel like I don't give myself enough credit. Rachel gets mad at me all the time, she's like, because I told her about the situation, like, it was crazy going to Vegas and seeing all these people and how they reacted to me nowadays. It's like, I don't even realize, like, you know, where I've gone and taking myself as an individual. I just look at myself as Max from Eastern.

• 22:34Speaker 04

  I walk into a gas station with a chain on my neck and not even think about it. Right. And which is stupid, you know, but sometimes, like, you know, at the end of the day, like, I'm just a normal person. Like, I'm, I've never changed, you know, I feel like just being genuine, you know, is helpful, but just like growing and seeing like how, you know, how big things are, you know, have gotten recently. It's like, you know, I have to really take a, you know, step back. But it's not like a social thing, it's not like I'm nervous when people are running up. Like, it's the coolest thing in the world, because, you know, for me, like, I was that same exact kid. Like, if I would have seen frickin', like, growing up in Michigan, if I was seeing Calvin Johnson or, you know, Dominic and Sue or something, I would have lost my mind. So like, every time I see a fan or something like that, I'm always signing.

• 23:17Speaker 04

  I'm always the last guy signing stuff, because I know how much that, you know, that fan's gonna appreciate it. So, yeah, it's been a lot, you know, it's been a lot of balance, but at the end of the day, like, I'm always in the crib, like, I'm a homebody, I got three crazy-ass pit bulls, I got a daughter, I got, you know, a fiance. So like, I like being in the house and just having my family and my closest people, you know, around me. And I just, you know, try to keep it simple.

• 23:41Ryan Clark?

  You know, our world is different. The thing that's beautiful about locker rooms is that it brings all these different people together. And if you actually ever have conversations that aren't about football, you realize like we all got stuff.

• 23:54Speaker 04

  Oh, yeah.

• 23:55Ryan Clark?

  And everybody's stuff may not be as, as deep, or as, as dangerous, or as dark as the others, but we're all, we're all dealing with things. And the thing that brings us together is that we trying to win football games.

• 24:07Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 24:07Ryan Clark?

  Right? Like you take your shit, you check it, you gonna take yours and check it, and we gonna try to go out and win. And you mentioned your individual success this year, but also last year. Last year was the year that put you on the map, that, that made everyone look at you and understand the Pro Bowl caliber play, the All-Pro caliber play. And you showed that again this year at a heightened level. But you didn't have the success. When we spoke to you the first time, it was, okay, Coach Bisaccia got us to this point. We were 10 and 7. We were a touchdown away from advancing to the divisional rounds. And now we got Josh McDaniels, and now we got Devonte, and we have Derek Carr. The year doesn't go as planned, but you're balling. How did you deal with that as a leader?

• 24:50Ryan Clark?

  Because ultimately, when you do get your money, when you are getting that individual success, the way that it seemed, the way that people get gold jackets, the way that people continue to get publicized, is because they're playing in meaningful games. So how was that for you, dealing with the way this season went?

• 25:06Speaker 04

  Yeah, I think, you know, Coach Marinelli hit it right on the head before the year. And he's like Yoda. Like, anything he says, it happens, and I believe it. Like, for the year, he called me and we talked every day, literally. And he's like, this is gonna be the hardest year of your career. I'm like, what are you talking about? I didn't understand what he was talking about. Looking back, you know, it was 100% the hardest year of my life. And I didn't understand what, you know, what that was gonna look like. And just, when it comes down, just from a football standpoint, all the things that were going on, the change, you know, having success, but also trying to be a leader when you're blowing leads every other week. It's like...

• 25:47Speaker 04

  It really tests you, but it's also like it opens your eyes to why you do this shit. Because all the money in the world, all this, you know, individual fame, all that shit, that's cool. But it made me realize why I do this shit and why I love it. There's nothing more that bothered me than losing the every single game. Like, we're six and 11, we got Devante, the leading rusher in the league, we got Chandler. Like, from the outside, we were supposed to be Super Bowl contenders. So when you're in that and you're constantly losing and everyone's just shitting on us 24/7, it makes you realize why you play this game and why you do it. And like, and even if it's from a negative perspective, like, I realize that the money and all that's cool,

• 26:31Speaker 04

  but I love this shit, I truly care about it. That shit, I would be going home like fucking sick. I wouldn't even talk, I would just go in my, go in my little theater and I would just watch the film and I'll be mad as fuck and like, just going through a million things in my head. And it's, that's the tough part, it's like, the NFL, every single game you have to earn. Like, it's not easy. And that's what it makes you appreciate. Like, last year, we won every single close game. This year, we lost every single close game. So, um, yeah, you know, it was a tough year, you know, there's so many ups and downs, so much change, so much chaos, but, you know, that's just a part of the league. You can either fold and let that affect you, or you can just show up and be the same guy.

• 27:13Speaker 04

  And that's kind of as a leader, like, that was, you know, I feel like I took another big step because we had guys injured all the time, we had dudes off the practice squad starting, you know, the two days later. Um, and it just, you know, it was a big challenge. And I feel like it'll, you know, it'll definitely pay off and I'll look back and be like, "Yeah, that season happened for a reason."

• 27:31Ryan Clark?

  A big question I have as a defensive player, the one thing that I hated the most, and I always felt this way, that if they gave us the lead, we gotta keep the lead. You know what I mean? Like, you give me enough points, and if at any point a team is trailing and it's not about turnovers and we aren't giving up field position and special teams, like, we gotta do what we have to do. You know, y'all get Baker Mayfield on... Two or three days.

• 27:59Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 27:59Ryan Clark?

  You know, being in the building for the Los Angeles Rams. They all are up in the fourth quarter.

• 28:04Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 28:05Ryan Clark?

  Uh, he drives and he, he makes some, some big throws down the field. It ends with a, a go ball to the left side of the football field. And as a leader on the defense and the team, because that's what you are, that had to be such a low point in a season of lows.

• 28:23Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 28:23Ryan Clark?

  Take me to the locker room after that game finishes.

• 28:27Speaker 04

  Yeah, honestly, I think that was the lowest point of the season. Cause we finally were starting to figure it out. We went to Seattle, we got that huge win. We won, I think, three in a row and we're like, alright. People started talking about us again, like, okay, this is what the Raiders are supposed to look like.

• 28:43Ryan Clark?

  Mm-hmm.

• 28:44Speaker 04

  So, we go to that game, we defensively, we're whooping their ass all game. And we just kept letting them hang around, hang around, hang around. And then, all of a sudden, like, there was no thought in my head that we're gonna lose this game. Like, there's no fucking chance. And we go in the last drive, we get a, like, me and Chandler split a sack. I'm like, the second, second play of that last drive, then we get a fifteen, fifteen yard penalty on some just stupid shit. And then, you know, it's just like, can't get out of our own way. And like, as a leader and as a, like you said, like, being on that defense, that's the shit that I take personal because I'm supposed to be the leader of the defense. That shit falls on me at the end of the day.

• 29:25Speaker 04

  And I could look at it and be hard on myself, but like, that's the tough part about it. Like, I, I, you know, you don't know, like, I could make five plays where they, the sixth play, they still go over your head and they, you know, they score. So, that's the tough thing, it makes you think a lot, you know, and think, what can I do more? And there's always more I can do, it's just, you know, we need, I just think from a... You know, as a defensive standpoint, we need dogs. We need a bunch of dogs. It can't just be, you know, two or three. It's gotta be a whole unit that's on the same page. And like, that's, for me, like, that's something I take super serious. Like, going into this offseason, I can't wait till April, so I can get, you know, whoever we're gonna get, and this is what the standard's gonna be.

• 30:08Speaker 04

  And I can't wait to, you know, lead that and set the example. But, you know, to your point, like, that Rams game was, that shit, I didn't even, I couldn't even believe it. Like, that flight back was just, like, silent. Nobody's talking. Nobody had any words. It was just like, damn, like, we really just fucking blew that.

• 30:24Channing Crowder?

  Right.

• 30:25Speaker 04

  And, yeah, it was, it was tough.

• 30:27Channing Crowder?

  Being a leader on the team, being an old guy, being an OG, being a hundred million dollar dude, young dudes gonna look up to you, you're the leader.

• 30:34Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 30:34Channing Crowder?

  When the team's having turmoil, and you said who we're gonna get, we know we're talking about Derek Carr, the quarterback position and all that stuff. How do you articulate to the young guys, or what do you say to them when things are going off the rails, on that plane ride back? Like, how do you be that leader and explain what's going on in this league? Explain turmoil to, with being a guy that really don't, I would guess, like to talk to people? You're not a, you're not a real extrovert like that.

• 30:59Speaker 04

  When it comes to football, like, I'm not like a shy dude. I'm very like, if I [bleep] with you, if I know you, I can, I'll give, I'm 100% myself. But if I'm not like, I don't know you, like, I'm not just gonna walk up, hey, how you do? Like, you know what I mean? That's just not me. But when it comes to football, like, those are my brothers. And at the end of the day, like, they look, you know, they look at me as a leader. They voted me a captain, they voted me a commitment to excellence. Like, they know what I do every day, and they know what I want for this team. And so, especially in those moments, like, when it's hard as fuck, like, you gotta realize, and one of my coaches told me this year, like, everybody's watching you. At the end of the day, regardless if you like it or not, everyone's looking to me when shit goes bad. Like, alright, Mac, it's time, like, we need to make a play, we have to get a stop.

• 31:43Speaker 04

  They're looking to me to be the leader in that. And that's, that's where, you know, as a young player, like, I'm only 25 years old. But it's a different responsibility now. Like, I'm a captain. It's not, you know, I'm not thinking, I can't just emotionally react and fucking lose my shit on the sideline, and then they're all gonna think that shit's okay. So it's like, you gotta, you know, put your ego aside and realize that everyone's got eyes on you. And I remember, you know, after that Rams game, we were on the, like, on the plane, it's literally silent. Like, nobody's talking. And I was disgusted, you know, about, you know, the 15-yard penalty. Just in that moment, I was so mad. And it was one of our new D tackles, we just signed, uh, Tillery. I love Tillery, he's awesome.

• 32:27Speaker 04

  And he was on the, on the plane, and he just seen the look in my face. Like, I didn't, I wasn't gonna, you know, I wasn't mad, like, I wasn't gonna fucking snap on or whatever. It was over at that point. But we just like, we were walking through the hall, grabbing a snap, whatever, and he just standing there, and he looks at me and like, he just like, got quiet and was like, "Bro, I'm so sorry." I'm like, "Bro, don't apologize to me." Said, "At the end of the day, you already know what it is. Everyone's made a mistake." And that's what it was, but that's what I feel like being a leader is. Like, I could've sit there and snapped on him and went to the media and be like, "Fuck, get rid of his ass, why do we even bring him in here?" But at the end of the day, it's in a heated, crazy environment. Obviously, you can't do that. But just the fact that he knew, like, he knew he messed up.

• 33:11Speaker 04

  Everyone knew he messed up, the whole world was shitting on him, like, we had that one-on-one moment where I was like, "Bro, don't even worry about it." I was like, "I'll see you tomorrow." Like, it is what it is, we gotta move past it. We could either cry about it and, you know, just dwell on it, or we learn from it. And that's the hardest part, is just being patient, especially after you lose so many close games, and then that was like, the ultimate. Little moments like that, I feel like, you know, that's what being a leader is all about.

• 33:35Fred Taylor?

  Hey, speaking of everybody having eyes on you, we all got social media.

• 33:38Speaker 04

  Yeah, of course.

• 33:39Fred Taylor?

  We've been seeing, you dogging these dudes on the basketball court. Yo, we know the Raiders see that too. Josh McDaniels, he call you yet, like, "Hey, well, personnel, opposite Darren, we need you to come play tight end." You also say, "It's about the more you can do." You ready for the package?

• 33:55Speaker 04

  I'm, trust me, I'm not gonna speak on that as far as football. But, trust me, I've had my conversations with Josh. But, yeah, I always wanna be a tight end.

• 34:04Fred Taylor?

  Wow.

• 34:05Speaker 04

  At the end of the day, so, yeah, I'm definitely open to that. But, yeah, I love basketball. Like, I love playing basketball. Josh, I see Josh and them every day. Like, I'm in the building early as hell, so I always catch them after breakfast. And the GM, he called me, he's like, he's like, "Just be careful. Do your thing, like, do your thing, I love you running around." I'm like, "I know, I know." I played two basketball games, I'm good, so. But, yeah, I love, I love just the competition and especially this time of the year, like, I need it. Like, I love, you know, changing up a little bit and, and hooping. I, I started playing basketball in first grade. Like, I, I thought I was gonna be in the NBA, but I only got, you know, if I was 6'9", maybe, but...

• 34:43Fred Taylor?

  You the best basketball player on the team?

• 34:45Speaker 04

  Oh, yeah, for sure, for sure.

• 34:48Fred Taylor?

  Tay?

• 34:48Speaker 04

  Tay's probably up there, it's probably me and Tay. I haven't hooped with Tay, but I've heard Tay's like that. And he showed me shit, but I think the guys will tell you that too. I'm not, you know, I'm not trying to boost myself, but I've hooped with all of them.

• 34:59Channing Crowder?

  He could go though.

• 34:59Fred Taylor?

  Yeah, I seen him.

• 35:00Channing Crowder?

  Yeah, he could go. Do you ever get the, uh, do you ever get the white, did you ever get the white boy thing growing up and hooping though?

• 35:05Speaker 04

  Course.

• 35:06Channing Crowder?

  You know what I mean?

• 35:07Speaker 04

  Course, I played AAU, I was the only white dude, so.

• 35:09Channing Crowder?

  Yeah.

• 35:10Speaker 04

  Every time you walk onto a basketball court, they're like, "Okay, this is, he's gonna, he's either a shooter or he's a tryhard." I'm like, "Relax." So, I don't even say shit nowadays. Even when I went to that park and I played that, the one video I just posted recently, the kid comes up to me, he's like, "Can you dunk?" I'm like... Tie my shoes. Fucking first, literally first two minutes, I boomed on somebody's shit and I'm like, "Okay." Like, that's just kinda how it is though, being the white guy. Everyone, everyone thinks you can't.

• 35:39Channing Crowder?

  You talking about basketball, but football wise? Like, when the white boy walks out, there's offensive tackle and quarterback, oh, yeah. That white guy can play that position. You still, it's funny, Caucasian doubt or something. It usually doesn't happen with white skin, it's usually the other way around. Have you overcome that now as an all-pro? The people still look at you as like, "Man, this white boy, he's a white boy."

• 36:00Speaker 04

  No, it's real, it, it is real. Like, I feel like, especially coming from Eastern, like, I've always had that label as, "Oh, he plays hard as hell. He's a tryhard, he's this." And I'm like, I know I'm more than that, but you're always gonna get labeled that as a white dude. So, you know, that's just something you gotta battle. But, yeah, I feel like I definitely have overcome it. I feel like, you know, at the end of the day, I... When it comes to film and skill and all that and athleticism, like I'm not just like a, you know, I feel like I'm my own, own person. So, yeah, you know, I definitely, I had to fight that for years. And I still feel like I have to fight it, but.

• 36:34Ryan Clark?

  They always give it to you, the draft, Mel Kiper. And this guy from Eastern Michigan, he's a, he's a high motor.

• 36:42Speaker 04

  High motor, blue collar.

• 36:45Ryan Clark?

  Lunch fail, lunch fail.

• 36:47Speaker 04

  Literally, I'm like, bro.

• 36:49Channing Crowder?

  My boy Zach Thomas just got in the Hall of Fame. And that's all they talked about, his career. He's leading the league in tackles. He just works hard. Working hard doesn't make you lead the damn league in tackles and go to seven Pro Bowls. But that's how they do y'all, man.

• 37:01Speaker 04

  You know, it's just a part of the struggle.

• 37:06Speaker 04

  Say y'all. That's just real though.

• 37:09Ryan Clark?

  You guys have Chandler and you put, you're trying to put the pieces together. To take that, that step backwards is always difficult. And now going into the offseason, you know, I had the clip with Derek from Pro Bowl. I was like, hey, man, you ever been this hot in Vegas? And he was like, nah, that's probably why I'm building a new team. You know what I mean? Which was, I could no longer be professional. Let me just say that. Like after he, after he said that, but looking at to where you guys, where you want to go, where you want to go as a team and where you are right now, what are the pieces you feel like you guys need and have to get going into this season or into this offseason?

• 37:46Speaker 04

  You know, just starting on the defensive side, you know, I feel like we have room for improvement at every position. Like we need corners, you know, linebackers, D-line, like from a depth perspective, like we had a lot of one-year guys. So, a lot of those guys are gone. And I feel like the draft, like obviously you got to build through the draft, but on top of it, bring in some, you know, some free agent big dogs. Because at the end of the day, like Devante is going into year 10.

• 38:15Ryan Clark?

  Yeah.

• 38:16Speaker 04

  I'm, you know, I'm in my prime right now. They're going into my prime. Josh Jacobs, leading the league in rushing, like we have a lot of big pieces on our team. And the window is not that, you know, not that big. So it's like, we got to get the right people in right now. Like there's no time to wait. There's no, we don't want to wait two, three years to be in the playoff contention. Like we were just in the playoffs with less as far as a talent perspective. So, yeah, we're just trying to win now and it's not easy. But yeah, I just want dogs around me, especially on the defensive side, like. At the end of the day, I want guys who want, who love football and are really gonna go out there and compete like, you know, I've been on a lot of, you know, struggling defenses and I hate that shit. I'm not used to that. When I was in college, we were the number

• 38:59Speaker 04

  one defense. We whooped everybody's ass. But we were all on the same page. And, you know, we've taken a lot of steps. I feel like even this past season, like second half of the year, we played much better. But you gotta think about it. I've been in the league four years. I've had three D coordinators. I've had three D line coaches. Like, we need to establish something permanent and just keep growing on what we got and, and build on it. And that's all I want. You know, I want stability. I wanna be, you know, like you said, I wanna be in the best situation. I wanna be in the big games. That's all you, you work for. You wanna be on, in ESPN in, in January and February. You don't wanna be sitting at home playing basketball and, you know, in playoff time. It's just not, you know, it's not what I, you know, what I'm looking forward to. But yeah, at the end

• 39:44Speaker 04

  of the day, the offensive side, the quarterback position's huge. So, there's a lot of rumors going around and shit. I, I don't know, but I wanna bring the best, the best we can possibly bring in. So, whether that's shit Rogers or Jimmy G or, you know, I like Stidham too, who, who came in and played well. So, whoever that's gonna be, you know, I trust the front office is gonna, you know, make the best decision.

• 40:07Fred Taylor?

  Max, there are big games and there are special games.

• 40:10Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 40:10Fred Taylor?

  This year, you guys got an opportunity to play in the 50th anniversary game or the Immaculate Reception.

• 40:15Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 40:16Fred Taylor?

  Uh, just days after losing Franco Harris.

• 40:19Speaker 04

  Mm-hmm.

• 40:19Fred Taylor?

  Uh, coming up, did you know much about the Immaculate Reception?

• 40:23Speaker 04

  Of course. Especially with the Raiders, you know, the Raiders' history. That shit displayed everywhere.

• 40:29Fred Taylor?

  How, how special of a moment was it that night to be in Pittsburgh, Heinz Field, you know, see the, you know, them honoring Franco, you know, even though he was no longer here with us? How, how was it that night?

• 40:43Speaker 00

  This episode is brought to you by Michelob Ultra. Good times mean competitions between you and your friends. Like seeing who can throw some pigskin the farthest, or rush the field the fastest. Winner gets an Ultra. Because it's not just a superior light beer, it's also giving fans superior access to their favorite sporting events. Superior is worth playing for. Visit michelobultra.com/superioraccess to enter. Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2026 Anheuser Busch InBev Michelob Ultra Beer, St. Louis, Missouri.

• 41:12Speaker 04

  Yeah, honestly, that was, like you said, a special moment. That shit was different. You know, we're playing Christmas Eve in Pittsburgh. It was freezing. Like, different type of freezing.

• 41:22Ryan Clark?

  Been there, brother.

• 41:23Speaker 04

  Oh, I already know. And I haven't played in... Like, I played in cold. I played at Eastern Michigan, it was cold. Like, this is a different level of cold. It was freezing. And just the energy in the building, like, just knowing I'm cold on the field, like, imagine how the guys feel. Like, there's people paying thousands of dollars to sit in there, sit in the stands and watch it. So, like, everyone was there for Franco that night. Right. Rest in peace to him. You know, it's crazy, leading up to the game, we're like, "Oh, Franco Harris is gonna be honored," then boom, he passes away. And we're like, "What?" So, it was just, you know, it was bittersweet in a way, but it was amazing. You know, that's one of those games I'll never forget. It was a great, you know, great game, super close. And it was just like, you know, snowing, everything like that. It's, you know, what football is all about. So, it was a special, special night.

• 42:08Ryan Clark?

  I've done a lot in that stadium and had a lot of, a lot of great moments. So, I could just imagine how electric it was. I'm sure they played Renegade

• 42:16Speaker 04

  Oh, yeah.

• 42:17Ryan Clark?

  at some point in the second half. Uh, and everybody in there goes crazy. But that's the Pittsburgh Steelers' legacy. That is the Oakland Raiders' legacy. It's Las Vegas Raiders now. And it's defensively, it's Maxx Crosby's team.

• 42:34Speaker 04

  Mm-hmm.

• 42:35Ryan Clark?

  Uh, your story is gonna be written in many ways, in many different avenues. You know, there's gonna be the story about your, about your life and coming through that adversity. But there's gonna have to be a story written about who you are as a football player. And we had the jokes earlier, you know, high motor, all of those things. But when you watch the film, you can see it go speed to power.

• 42:54Speaker 04

  Mm-hmm.

• 42:54Ryan Clark?

  Right? You can see it, you can see it in the TE games. The agility, you know? You can see the hand movement. Being that you have everything it takes to be one of those guys. You know, I kinda saw when the all-pro teams come out and these different things. You like expressing your feelings that I'm one of, I'm supposed to be, I'm one of those dudes.

• 43:14Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 43:14Ryan Clark?

  Where do you see yourself right now in this game as compared to your contemporaries that play the position? And where do you want to go?

• 43:22Speaker 04

  You know, I don't like to compare myself to anybody. You know, I feel like at the end of the day, I'm the best at what I do. You know, regardless of what, you know, anybody says. And I don't just say that, and I wouldn't have said that yet last year, I wouldn't have said that two years ago. I truly believe I'm the best. The thing is, I'm, I know I'm not the best version of myself. Yeah, I'm in those conversations. You know, at the end of the day, like, you know, they talk about me and that, but there's certain guys that they put on, you know, a slightly higher level. And so that's just a challenge for me. Like when they talk about TJ, they talk about Bosa. You know, they, people think there's a difference. And for me, it's like, I watch everybody. I watch every single, every single rusher.

• 44:07Speaker 04

  I watch every single game that I play in, every rep. And I know I'm right there. But that's the challenge. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. I trust in the longevity of what I'm doing. I feel like over time, it might take a little bit more time to people, you know, for people to truly give me that respect. But guys like Aaron Donald, they would inspire me. I don't want to be, you know, just one of the best. I want to be the best. Michael Jordan, the Kobe's, like those are the people I look up to. The Mike Tysons, I watched a million documentaries on those guys. It doesn't matter what sport it is. A Conor McGregor's, when he was in his run, like I've watched a million things on him. I like to think of myself in a, in my own category.

• 44:48Speaker 04

  Cause at the end of the day, I feel like from an overall perspective, nobody's doing, nobody's playing the game the way I'm playing. Like nobody, as a DN, I led my team in tackles and I led the league in TFLs. But you know, certain things carry more weight, you know, from the outside perspective. So for me, it's just another challenge. Like I know looking back, like if you just look at pure numbers. You know, that's undeniable, you know, the things I did. But, you know, for me, I feel like just over time, it's gonna take a little bit more time. And once we start winning more and start bringing more pieces around me, I feel like it's only gonna help my career and everything else. So, yeah, I'm trusting the process. I'm gonna just continue to work and just find that 1% to improve on, no matter what it is.

• 45:31Speaker 04

  It's my pass rush, my, you know, run, run defense, you know, my explosion in the weight room. What am I doing? How can I fix, fine tune my, you know, routine? That's what I'm doing right now. So, you know, I started two weeks earlier this year. I sat down my nutritionist, my strength coach. I'm in the building, you know, in January compared to, you know, I usually start the day after Super Bowl. But we got a little head start doing things the right way. And just, you know, I'm gonna just keep going until, until I can't anymore. And that's, that's really my goal. You know, I like to, I wanna be one of those guys who was an icon of my era. One of the guys who were like, "Yeah, he wasn't like anybody else." Kobe was one of the best, but people talk about his mentality more than anything.

• 46:14Speaker 04

  And that's kinda, you know, I feel like I can, I bring something different to the table. I got a great story, but the way I play, I feel like it's just different. You know, and that's what I stand on. You know, like you said, people make fun of me for playing hard. Now people, you know, ask me like, "How the hell are you in that? Like, how are you able to play 1,100 snaps at DN?" Nobody's doing that shit. So, yeah, I take it personal. Every single rep means the world to me. So, I'm just trying to continue to find, find that little percentage in every way I can to get better.

• 46:43Channing Crowder?

  And talking about that greatness, we had Mike Tyson on.

• 46:47Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 46:47Channing Crowder?

  And I'm gonna ask the same question I asked him to you.

• 46:51Channing Crowder?

  Why do y'all wear these tiny ass shorts with your damn thighs out? Is it sexy? Are you trying to show you have hamstring? You always got these little ass shorts on, Max.

• 47:02Channing Crowder?

  Got to know.

• 47:04Speaker 04

  Honestly, you know, I feel like just the, the big ass and one baggy shorts are out. You know, it's just not a thing anymore. It's kinda gone back to the Larry Bird type of deal. So, you know, I'm a Larry Bird fan. So, I feel like you gotta show off, you know, your legs a little bit, let them breathe. And, uh, yeah, that's kinda, you know, the way I look at it.

• 47:25Ryan Clark?

  Hey man, a lot of times, bro, we have a really serious show and...

• 47:29Channing Crowder?

  I had to know. Man, it's too damn big to be wearing them shorts. It's a great question. Yeah, you got drawers on, can you wet drawers? You gotta wear thongs so they don't see the draw line.

• 47:42Ryan Clark?

  Hey Max, man, we appreciate you, man, for taking the time, for telling your story, but also talking about what this game means to you. It means the same to all of us except for Channing. He didn't work out. Now, this is real talk. He didn't work out. He didn't train. He felt like when he got his life together, it made him a worse player. And so, that is what...

• 48:02Channing Crowder?

  Y'all take this football real serious, man. I had a job.

• 48:08Channing Crowder?

  You going to Walgreens, I'm gonna head to the Dolphin facility. I live, I just had a job. Yeah, but you talking about not playing for money. I knew every game, my exact check after taxes I was gonna get. And I figured out now, Max, in the long run, talking to these guys, talking to the Hall of Fame we have, it might have been the wrong approach. Just maybe, just maybe.

• 48:28Ryan Clark?

  My man, we appreciate you, man. You the true definition of what the pivot is, bro. And we gonna root for you all the time, you know. I'll shoot you a text every now and then when I see how it's going. My dog, appreciate you, bro.

• 48:39Channing Crowder?

  Yes, sir.

• 48:40Ryan Clark?

  Appreciate you, boy.

• 48:41Channing Crowder?

  Sir, I'll win.

• 48:45Ryan Clark?

  Yeah, he big ol' dude.

• 48:46Channing Crowder?

  I appreciate you, man.