Are the Cowboys really done in their pursuit of Maxx Crosby? There's more than enough smoke to suggest they aren't.
The NFL's free agency period has been thrown into turmoil, and for once, the Dallas Cowboys aren't at the center of it.
Rather, they are on the sidelines, with many in Cowboys Nation wondering why they aren't eagerly waiting for their turn.
The Baltimore Ravens have walked back on their trade for Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby after he reportedly failed his physical.
With Crosby undergoing knee surgery, which has an expected healing time of three to four months, Maxx was deemed by Baltimore to not be healthy enough to pass the physical.
And when news broke that Maxx was suddenly available again, Cowboys Nation went into overdrive.
This is the ideal time to get back into the Maxx Sweepstakes, right?
Apparently, Dallas feels that's wrong.
Very wrong.
NFL Network's Jane Slater, who is very plugged-in here, reported via a team source that the Cowboys "have moved on'' from the Crosby chase.
And many media people have echoed that sentiment.
But then we have the contrary - or maybe overly hopeful view - of our own Mike Fisher, who also posted, and it's given us food for thought.
"Cowboys hinting at disinterest in re-engaging in Maxx Crosby trade talks. I'd love to think they're clever enough to be bluffing," Fish posted.
He added ...
"So the Cowboys (and all the other teams) SWEAR they're not interested. And the Raiders leak that teams are calling. Don't overreact to the manipulation, Cowboys Nation. It's early. "
And that brings us to what could be an interesting thread to pull here.
Are the Cowboys bluffing in regard to their interest level in Maxx Crosby?
Let's walk through it.
We now know that the Raiders are in a little bit of a sticky situation with Maxx.
According to various reports, all of the deals they have lined up won't be impacted if Crosby stays a Raider. But there is a sense that the Raiders could still take calls. And going by Fish's word, they are making them.
Dallas was reportedly second in the Crosby Sweepstakes after refusing to give up two first-round picks. Well, it won't have to give up that for Maxx now.
The Cowboys could take advantage now. Las Vegas has no leverage.
Why would Dallas not try to low-ball the Raiders in pursuit of a player who just 90 hours earlier they were desperate to obtain? A first-rounder, a second-rounder and a player? No, that was the old Cowboys offer.
This time? Offer a contingency deal ... where the value of the picks escalate only in the event that Crosby plays 12 games in 2026, or whatever.
Is his knee more of a problem than it was four days ago? Dr. Daniel Cooper, who happens to be the Cowboys team doctor, was involved in the Ravens' examination of Crosby, so Dallas certainly has good intel on the rehab. ...
So much so that we assume that the Cowboys' "final decision'' (if it's indeed that) is driven by Cooper's recommendation.
But again ... that means Maxx's new trade value is ... zero? Nonsense.
There would be a lot of hoops to jump through here, no doubt, and the Cowboys have made sure to leak that info, too. After all, they just traded for another pass-rusher in Green Bay's Rashan Gary. What about him?
Our answer? What about him? Keep him. Cut him. Un-do the trade, just like Baltimore did. Whatever.
But please don't argue that Gary is better to have than Crosby.
Fish hopes the Cowboys are clever enough to be bluffing, because there is no reason not to be interested in Crosby.
And maybe, on the down-low, they still are. ... but are also being crafty enough to avoid telegraphing their intentions to the football world.
Or maybe - and here's the unfortunate part - Dallas really has close-mindedly moved on from Maxx.