In the middle of the storm surrounding the Maxx Crosby’s situation, the Dallas Cowboys have made a sudden appearance as one of the defining factors of the final decision. In a stunning turn of events this week, the franchise led by Jerry Jones has been credited with the award of being the ones who prevented the Baltimore Ravens from completing one of the biggest trades in recent memory.
On Tuesday night, Las Vegas Raiders shocked the league by announcing that Baltimore had officially cancelled the blockbuster deal for the edge rusher. The trade was initially claimed to be stopped by a failed physical but new reports suggest that the final word came from a medical expert inside the Cowboys’ organization.
The one who called it off
The potential trade, which would have sent Crosby to Baltimore in exchange for two first-round picks, seemed like a done deal until the Ravens’ medical staff flagged concerns regarding Crosby’s knee. Looking for a second point of view, the Ravens turned to one of the most respected figures in sports medicine: Dr. Daniel Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys’ team doctor and a world-renowned knee specialist.
According to NFL Network’s Jane Slater, the Ravens consulted Cooper specifically to ask about the long-term viability of Crosby’s knee after his physical results came back inconclusive. ESPN’s Adam Schefter also noted that this is not an isolated circumstance, as many teams across the league frequently consult him for these kinds of decisions.
The irony in the case is amazing. Just before the Ravens, Jerry Jones made an offer to get his hands on Crosby. Reports suggest that Jones offered a first and second-round pick to bring the guy to Arlington. Funny enough, Baltimore overtook them in the race, only to see them retire from negotiations after hearing the opinion of a Cowboys’ specialist.
A wild storm in the AFC North
The collapse of this trade created a domino effect inside the league. Within hours of the deal being nixed, Baltimore used the cap space they had cleared for Crosby to sign Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million deal. Smart choice.
However, as the dust is removed, it seems that the Cowboys actually saved the Ravens from themselves, even if it meant Dallas lost in the process too.
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