Friendship with Maxx Crosby big reason why Chandler Jones chose Las Vegas Raiders

HENDERSON, Nev. -- What started as a random direct message on social media has blossomed into a full-blown friendship, one that played a key part in an established sack artist choosing to play opposite a rising pass-rushing star with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Indeed, Chandler Jones said he is a "huge fan" of Maxx Crosby.

"Just to have the opportunity to rush on the opposite side of him is huge for me," Jones said Thursday in his introductory news conference.

"He FaceTimed me when he found out the news and he was about to cry he was so happy. He was about to cry when I saw him down in the cafeteria earlier."

The Raiders hope opposing quarterbacks have the same teary reaction with Jones, whose 107.5 career sacks are the most in the NFL since 2012, teaming up with Crosby, the reigning Pro Bowl defensive MVP who has 25 sacks in his first three NFL seasons.

Especially in the arms race that is the AFC West, with Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Chiefs, Justin Herbert with the Los Angeles Chargers and a familiar face to Jones now with the Denver Broncos in Russell Wilson.

Jones, who played six seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, sacked Wilson 16.5 times while he was the quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks. Jones also refers to Wilson as a friend.

"He thought he could get away from me, leaving [the NFC West], but I'm right here with him again," Jones said with a laugh. "So, that's going to be fun, getting after him a little bit."

But not as fun, the Raiders hope, as Jones and Crosby feeding off one another in new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham's versatile scheme.

In fact, Graham's presence was another pull for Jones, who signed a three-year deal worth more than $51 million, according to a report from NFL Network. Graham was Jones' first position coach in the league, when Jones was a first-round pick of the New England Patriots out of Syracuse in 2012. Jones said Graham taught him more than just football skills like how to get to the quarterback or how to set the edge.

"How to be a man," Jones said. "Little things, like tying your tie. Things like that, they go a long way."

Little things. Like a direct message on Twitter from Crosby.

"Chandler is one of the best to ever do it," Crosby told ESPN. "He's a great person on top of it and I can't wait to get to work."

Jones, 32, said Crosby, who signed a four-year $95 million extension with Las Vegas last week, initiated the friendship by messaging him after a recent game.

"We've been chopping it up since then," said Jones, who would reciprocate.

"I'd text him, 'Hey, that was a good move. How'd you, what did you do there? How'd you set up that spin?'"

The two have since swapped film, clips of each other, Jones said.

"When you walk into someone that loves football as much as you do," Jones said, "you could sit there and talk for days, hours, and Maxx is one of those guys."