But in the time since, he’s found assurance from his doctor, Neal ElAttrache, who performed his surgery, and comfort in returning to a place he began and — even immediately after the trade was initially announced — hoped to end his career.
Crosby said ElAttrache spoke to him on the phone in the aftermath and told him the following: “You’re doing everything right, everything’s going well, we’re going to keep sticking to the plan — you will be back by training camp.”
Of returning to the Silver and Black, he added: “S— happens for a reason, I know exactly who I am — I’m healthy, I’m f—— crushing my rehab, I’m doing what I’m doing. I wasn’t supposed to be in Baltimore, and that’s it. I’m meant to be a Raider — it’s through my damn core. And that’s it; you know what I mean? I’ll leave it simple as that.”
Crosby is somewhat remarkably rejoining a Raiders team likely more ready to compete than the one he left for less than a week. Las Vegas is primed to pick a franchise quarterback with the No. 1 pick in April’s draft, potentially Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. The club signed center Tyler Linderbaum away from Baltimore to protect its future quarterback, and Crosby will be surrounded by a slew of defensive newcomers such as Kwity Paye, Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker and Taron Johnson, all of whom still fit in the Raiders’ finances despite Las Vegas unexpectedly keeping Crosby’s contract.
Perhaps the Raiders would not have splurged so excessively had they not first agreed to trade Crosby, but such hypotheticals make no matter to Crosby, nor do the inner workings of a blockbuster that was not to be.
“This is the thing; everyone’s got their own theory — conspiracy theory — no one really will ever admit, either side, what the real truth is or whatever,” Crosby said. “Ultimately, it doesn’t even matter. I am where I’m supposed to be. I know that.”