The NFL -- like all of us -- is still trying to process it. Why did the Baltimore Ravens back out of their blockbuster trade with the Las Vegas Raiders that sent stud defensive end Maxx Crosby to Baltimore?
Did Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta get cold feet? The Ravens agreeing to terms with Trey Hendrickson on a four-year, $112 million contract on Wednesday morning only puts a bigger target on their back.
Was Baltimore actually concerned about Crosby's knee following January meniscus surgery? That's a question the Dallas Cowboys, and other potential Crosby suitors -- assuming he's back on the trade market -- must answer.
Well, Dallas reportedly won't pursue Crosby now, and that might be because team doctor and lead knee specialist Dr. Dan Cooper examined Crosby's MRI, per ESPN's Adam Schefter (h/t Jane Slater, NFL Network).
"My understanding is that there were multiple doctors that reviewed his MRI scans. There were doctors that examined him, including Dr. Daniel Cooper ... many teams and players rely on Dr. Cooper's expertise. And Dr. Cooper was one of the doctors who reviewed the images where the Ravens then felt compelled to back out of this trade."
The Dallas Cowboys' team doctor examined Maxx Crosby's knee before Ravens backed out of the trade
Of course, the Cowboys find themselves in the middle of one of the most unprecedented developments in recent NFL history. Thankfully, the connection stops at Dr. Cooper, but that’s still significant given that Cooper is one of the most revered knee specialists in the field.
On top of leading all of Dallas' major knee operations, Cooper recently performed ACL surgery on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers.
The fact that the Ravens backed out after Cooper examined Crosby’s MRI suggests he may have discovered some red flags. Crosby has undergone two knee surgeries in as many years and has had eight total surgeries in seven NFL seasons, albeit on various body parts.
However, that hasn't stopped Crosby from being a force of nature on the football field. He finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2019 and has since made five Pro Bowls and two second-team All-Pros in six seasons. He's a wrecking ball.
Meniscus surgeries are no joke, but are we to believe that Cooper's examination is what compelled Baltimore to back out of the deal?
Maybe Crosby's knee is that big of a concern. And maybe that's why the Cowboys reportedly won't reopen trade talks with Las Vegas.
Or maybe DeCosta got cold feet after agreeing to surrender two first-round picks when he could have just signed Trey Hendrickson and kept all of his draft capital.
It's impossible to say, but Cooper's evaluation has become a central piece of what is already a messy saga.