Maxx Crosby Sends Strong Message to James Harden After Big News…
Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby recently signed a historic $106.5 million deal, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Crosby signed the three-year extension after playing his sixth season with the Raiders. Throughout his career in Las Vegas, Crosby has been named a four-time Pro Bowler. Following the news of the historic contract for the NFL star, Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden took to social media to send Crosby a message. “Earned Not Given,” Harden said. Crosby then responded to Harden’s social media post, shouting out the Clippers star for his recent performance against the Detroit Pistons. “My Brother,” Crosby said. “EARNED… Just Like That 50 Ball Last Night.” In a recent 123-115 victory over the Pistons, Harden posted 50 points, four rebounds and five assists, leading the Clippers to their 33rd win of the season. Los Angeles currently sits at No. 8 in the
Western Conference standings with a 33-29 record. So far this season, Harden has averaged 22.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game. LA Clippers guard James Harden (1). Matt Marton-Imagn Images Matt Marton-Imagn Images Last season, Crosby’s sixth year with the Raiders, he posted five pass deflections, 7.5 sacks and 45 tackles. The Raiders capped off the season with a 4-13 record while Crosby nurtured an ankle injury at the end of the year.
Former Browns WR Josh Gordon gives tough love to George Pickens…
Jarrett Bailey has been the deputy editor for Behind The Steel Curtain since 2023. He also serves as an NFL contributor for The Sporting News, and is the host of The Pump Fake Podcast. He lives in Pittsburgh and is a lifelong Steelers fan.
George Pickens has been one of the best deep ball receivers in the NFL since he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft. No matter who has thrown him the ball – and there have been a lot of different guys throwing him the ball – he routinely makes the difficult jump ball receptions downfield at a rate where it’s just expected at this point, and he is by far the best receiver the Steelers currently have on their roster.
The drawback with Pickens, though, is no secret – his attitude. There has been drama from the former Georgia star dating back to the 2023 season when he cleared his Instagram of anything Steelers related amidst frustrations with lack of receptions. That same year, he had multiple on-field breakdowns, specifically in a Thursday night loss to the New England Patriots. In 2024, there were several penalties he was given for taunting, unnecessary roughness, and he got into a fight with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome at the end of the Steelers’ loss to the Browns in Cleveland in the Thursday night snow globe game.
Frankly speaking, Pickens has to grow up. And it isn’t just Steelers fans that believe that, former Browns star receiver Josh Gordon said as much in a recent interview with Kyle Odegard of Casino Beats.
“The off-the-field stuff, I can’t touch on it too much,” Gordon said. “Because it’s personal, right? I can’t say if he’s dealing with anything, but if someone says it then it becomes a thing, and it becomes reality: oh, he’s a bad-effort guy. Maybe he is just tired, but that’s a part of professionalism. If you’re the No. 1 guy, you have to always be in the game, and there’s never an off switch with you. We don’t want to see you b*tch and moan. We want to see you go 110% because that’s what you’re here to do. If that’s the demand, and if he’s ready for that, then the rest should take care of itself. He’ll make that decision and you’ll see a different player. Mentally, he’ll be locked in. Because talent isn’t the issue.”
The on-field tantrums and visible checking out of games have long been the largest criticisms against Pickens, and are seemingly issues he can’t fix. Hopefully this season will bring new found maturity for the star receiver and the attitude issue won’t be discussed any further. Until that comes to fruition, though, that will be the label he wears.
