Ravens prez blames 'slow news cycle' for Crosby nixed trade fallout - ESPN

PHOENIX — Baltimore Ravens team president Sashi Brown said Monday that the rescinding of the Maxx Crosby trade won't negatively affect the team's reputation, chalking up the criticism to «a slow news cycle.»

«We've got strong and long relationships across the league,» Brown said at the annual league meeting. «We have emphasized the importance of doing things the right way. We'll continue to do that. And we understand that it is a headline story because of its profile and significance. We believe our relationships, to the extent that you need time to repair them, people understand who we are and what we're about.»

Brown added, «When you have high-profile transactions like this and opportunities like this, it's unfortunate, but sometimes these things do happen — no fault of Maxx, ours or the Raiders. It's just kind of how it played out.»

On March 10, the Ravens backed out of a trade for Crosby that would have sent two first-round picks, including the No. 14 overall selection this year, to the Las Vegas Raiders. The deal, which was contingent on a physical, fell apart four days after the sides had agreed on a blockbuster move.

A source indicated the team had an issue after seeing imaging from Crosby's physical, saying there was concern about his durability «because of a degenerative issue in his knee.» A day after nullifying the trade for Crosby, Baltimore quickly pivoted by signing four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million deal that didn't require giving up any draft capital.

Raiders general manager John Spytek said Monday that he doesn't have an opinion on how the trade fell apart.

«Maxx is back like he never left,» Spytek said. «He's working his ass off to get healthy, and he'll be