MIAMI GARDENS — Patrick Paul was a rookie on the Miami Dolphins when he learned firsthand that one way to slow Maxx Crosby is to let Maxx Crosby handicap himself.

The last time the Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders met, Crosby lasted just three snaps before drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty. Crosby was aggravated at something that guard Liam Eichenberg said or did. Eichenberg was coy on how he ticked off Crosby, saying, “He’s kind of easy to aggravate.” 

Whatever the trigger, Crosby threw a forearm at Eichenberg and the Dolphins had a free 15 yards, including a cheap third-down conversion en route to a touchdown.

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Eichenberg no longer is a Dolphin, but Paul is Miami’s starting left tackle. So, it was only natural he was asked about lining up against Crosby, who recently ranked No. 24 in the annual list of the NFL’s top 100 players.

“I feel like he’s a hothead,” Paul said.

Reporters covering the Raiders asked Crosby multiple times about the bulletin-board material. Crosby either chose not to bite or has forgotten his last meeting with the Dolphins.

"I don't know what they're talking about or who is talking about what," Crosby said. "It is what it is. We'll see Sunday."

Paul indicated Crosby's temper might be something he can take advantage of, although he plans to come armed with more ammo than just trash talk.

“He’s a dynamic player,” Paul said. “So with him, just beating him to a spot, getting your hands on him, getting him off his game. He likes to play with a lot of swagger.”

Maxx Crosby has 69.5 career sacks in NFL career

Crosby has earned that right. He has been dominant for so long that it may surprise some to know he’s still only 29 years old. He’s a five-time Pro Bowl selection with 69.5 career sacks, including 10 last year when he also had 28 tackles for loss, marking the third time in the past four years with at least 22.

And he’s known around the league for being as dangerous in the fourth quarter as he is in the first.

“You better know where he is,” Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said. “He’s one of the elite defenders in the league that plays with a relentless motor.”

Relentless is a fitting description of NFL general managers’ interest in acquiring Crosby. There was the trade that fell apart that would have sent Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens. There has been persistent speculation of interest from the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys. Whether in Oakland or Las Vegas, Crosby has been a Raider since they acquired him in a fourth-round steal in 2019.

The roughness penalty against Crosby was part of a 34-19 Dolphins victory in 2024.

Perhaps after this weekend’s rematch, Paul will be as coy as Eichenberg, who made a slight attempt at claiming innocence.

“I don’t know if he just had a bad week or something,” Eichenberg said.

Hal Habib covers the Miami Dolphins for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at HHabib@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Can Patrick Paul, Dolphins, needle Raiders' 'hothead' Maxx Crosby?

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