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The NFL took away a triangle facemask that represents life-changing sobriety to Las Vegas' Maxx Crosby.

The Raiders defender revealed on The Rush podcast that he received an email demanding he change back to a normal facemask.

Crosby's unique triangle mask was personal for him and much more than just an on-field fashion statement.

"The triangle to me represents sobriety," Crosby said. "It’s everything. It’s why I’m here. It's why I'm doing this podcast with y'all. It’s why I got a beautiful daughter, a family, great circle of people.

"It literally is everything. If I didn’t make that decision to clean my life up, get in AA and the 12 steps, I wouldn’t be here. So that's literally what it comes down to."

The Raider began his revelation by blaming NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for the abrupt change.

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"I love the National Football League, everything we represent," Crosby said. "But Roger Goodell, we've got to get on a call. We've got to FaceTime. I want to talk to you, sit down man to man. Because they made me take my facemask off."

Crosby is having another monster year for the Raiders, who have improved to 3-3 after winning back-to-back games.

The former fourth-round pick already has 5.5 sacks and 35 tackles, including eight for a loss, through just six games.

But Crosby made it clear as he stared into a camera that he was hurt by the NFL's stance, which forced the fierce pass rusher adapt to a normal facemask.

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"They made me take my facemask off," Crosby said. "They sent me a nice email saying it has to go."

𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: The #NFL made Maxx Crosby change his triangle facemask in their game against the #Patriots last week, he said on his podcast @TheRushWithMaxx

Crosby wears the triangle facemask because it’s a symbol of his sobriety, something that means a lot to him.… pic.twitter.com/wcvwoeFUEr

The Raider has been very vocal about his sobriety and the positive impact it's had on his life.

"I got the date I got sober on my hand," Crosby said. "It's the first thing I see every single day when I grab something -- I see the triangle at all times."

He added: "Representing sobriety to the fullest. I got it tatted on my neck, my hands, everywhere.

"So I put it on my facemask -- it means a lot to me. It means that all of the people watching, they understand what's going on."

Tyreek Hill has been fined for multiple uniform violations, so this isn't the first time that the NFL has cracked down on creativity.

But since Crosby's triangle design was so personal, the reformed Raiders star hopes what's often known as the No Fun League will change its ways and see the bigger picture.

"I was upset about it but we're going to work on it," Crosby said. "We're going to figure that out because we need that triangle back."

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