Maxx Crosby Hit with $11K Fine for Late Hit on Joe Burrow, Adding to Raiders’ Week 9 Woes
While the Las Vegas Raiders are on their bye week, they’re still making headlines — albeit for reasons they would likely rather forget. One of the latest stories involves star defensive end Maxx Crosby, who was handed an $11,255 fine by the NFL for unnecessary roughness in Week 9. This fine stems from an incident during the Raiders’ loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, where Crosby was penalized for a late hit on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow after the play was whistled dead.
The play occurred in the second quarter of the Raiders’ 21-13 defeat to the Bengals. After an offsides penalty was called on Crosby, he failed to hear the whistle, and when Burrow released the ball, Crosby continued his rush toward the quarterback. The result was a helmet-to-helmet collision that occurred after the play had already been stopped. While Crosby seemed to pull up at the last moment, the hit was still flagged for unnecessary roughness, and the helmet-to-helmet contact drew the league’s attention.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the fine on November 9, 2024, noting the specific penalties involved. The fine, totaling over $11,000, was likely influenced by the fact that Crosby made direct helmet-to-helmet contact with Burrow, which is considered a serious safety violation under the league’s rules. While Crosby’s hit may not have been malicious — and it did appear that he tried to let up before impact — the NFL is strict about player safety, especially regarding head injuries.
A Costly Mistake During a Tough Season for the Raiders
For Crosby, this fine is just another hit to a team that’s already struggling to find its rhythm. The Raiders fell to 2-7 after the Week 9 loss to Cincinnati, and the fine on their best defensive player only adds to the frustration. The defensive end, who is widely regarded as the heart and soul of the Raiders’ defense, has had an otherwise stellar season. But like the team as a whole, Crosby has been caught in a few costly mistakes, and this one certainly stings.
Although Crosby’s intentions likely weren’t to injure Burrow or disregard the whistle, the NFL operates under a strict set of protocols when it comes to player safety, particularly with headshots. The fine serves as a reminder that even a seemingly minor lapse in awareness can result in hefty consequences, both for the player and the team.
The Raiders, who have been inconsistent on both sides of the ball this season, will now have to turn their attention to their next opponent — the Miami Dolphins — when they return to action in Week 11. Crosby and the rest of the Raiders will be hoping to regroup during the bye week and come out of the break with a renewed focus, despite the cloud of disappointment surrounding this loss and the fine.
As the Raiders continue to search for answers and a way to climb out of the AFC West basement, they’ll have to do so without a few extra dollars in their pockets thanks to Maxx Crosby’s costly hit on Joe Burrow.
