Maxx Crosby reveals the 'groan' Patrick Mahomes makes to shake off hits: "It’s just funny"
Crosby explained the unusual thing Mahomes does after contact
There is very little mystery left between Maxx Crosby and Patrick Mahomes .
They have seen each other too often, battled through too many AFC West games and developed the kind of familiarity that only comes from repeated collisions between an elite pass rusher and one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks.
That history is why Crosby noticed something specific about Mahomes after their latest meeting.
“Pat, [we] had our back and forth’s all game,” Crosby said on his podcast, The Rush. “I felt like I definitely got to him a few times. We had our conversations, but ultimate respect with him. He knows that.”
The Las Vegas Raiders defender has 6.5 career sacks and 49 pressures against Mahomes , making him one of the quarterbacks’ most frequent tormentors.
Crosby says Mahomes always checks who hit him
Crosby said the most amusing part comes after the play is already over.
“Got some good hits on him,” Crosby said. “It’s just funny, every time I hit him, he rolls over and he peeks at me, just to see. And I’m always in his face, just staring at him.”
The exchange became even more entertaining when co-host Brogan Roback asked whether Mahomes makes any noise after being tackled.
“I don’t know,” Crosby said before mimicking an “Ugh!” sound.
Roback quickly responded: “A whine? Don’t say moan, just don’t say that word.”
“There’s no other word! But yeah,” Crosby said with a laugh.
The humor did not take away from the respect Crosby has for the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback.
“It’s respect, bro,” he said. “Like he’s the best quarterback of our generation, you know what I mean? And for me, I want to be looked at as the best at my position.”
Mahomes was sacked twice in Kansas City’s 30-27 win over Las Vegas, while Crosby finished with half a sack and continued to make his presence felt around the pocket.
The Raiders handed Kansas City one of its more physical tests, even if the Chiefs ultimately left with the victory.
Crosby believes that tension is what makes the matchup work.
“When you have two division rivals willing to go to the farthest extent to win, it makes for great entertainment and great competition,” he said.
Crosby wants to make Mahomes uncomfortable. Mahomes knows Crosby will keep coming.
And after enough meetings, Crosby has learned to recognize the little details too, including the look, and apparently the sound, Mahomes makes when one of those hits finally lands.
