Pundits Shoot Down Conspiracy Theories
The Ravens have been scrutinized for pulling out of the Crosby trade and then agreeing to terms with Hendrickson, with a couple of "insiders" in particular seeming to take issue with the deal falling through after the Ravens reviewed the results of Crosby's physical.
Fortunately, there are voices of reason:
The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin: "As suspicious as it looked, the Ravens and General Manager Eric DeCosta did nothing wrong. The Raiders only have themselves to blame. The Raiders know that trades or free agent signings don't become official until all players involved pass a physical exam. They also know that physicals are entirely subjective — teams are granted wide discretion on whether to pass or fail a player. The Raiders did this in 2014, canceling a $42 million contract with free agent Rodger Saffold after conducting a physical. Considering Crosby played part of last season through a torn meniscus and was still on crutches a week ago, the pre-trade physical was going to be more than a formality.
"[The Ravens] were within their rights to fail Crosby's physical, much like prospective home-buyers can walk away from escrow if an inspection turns up unexpected damage. While the Ravens obviously knew Crosby was rehabbing from surgery, it is certainly possible that Tuesday's exam turned up damage that was more extensive than expected. The Ravens reportedly consulted with the Cowboys' team doctor, Dr. Dan Cooper, considered one of the leading knee surgeons who performed on Patrick Mahomes recently."
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer: "I'd believe Ravens GM Eric DeCosta when he says he's 'gutted' that the Maxx Crosby trade didn't work out. He's told people that Crosby is his favorite non-Raven in football, and he and his new coaching staff were dancing in the streets when the deal was agreed to last Friday night. It was a chance to fill a major hole with a player who fit what the Ravens look for culturally in about every way (though Crosby does that for pretty much everyone). So what was the biggest problem?
"My sense is it comes down to the question of longevity. A meniscus injury can be a difficult one for an older player to come back from, and carries a high risk of arthritis down the line. The issue for Crosby was never going to be whether or not he could play this year — he's expected to be cleared in June or early July. It was whether or not the injury could shorten his career. Say, then, that the doctors told DeCosta that Crosby's knee might be a real problem in just a year or two. At that point, it'd be tough for anyone to sign off on trading two first-round picks for him, especially with the prospect that he could seek a new deal after the season, at which point Will Anderson Jr. may have pushed the edge rusher market to $50 million per year."