A.J. Brown is frustrated … again.
He’s made that clear, while the other high-paid receiver in Philadelphia, DeVonta Smith, has stayed quiet despite his own frustrations, multiple sources tell me. The wideouts in Philadelphia clearly want more touchdowns. They each have one.
Through four games, Brown, a three-time All-Pro, has just 14 catches for 151 yards. That’s not the production he or anyone expects from one of the most talented receivers in football. And so, like we’ve seen before, the frustration spilled out.
This time it came in the form of scripture, posted to his X account: “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”
Cue the freak out.
Brown later clarified, insisting he’s good with the Eagles, that the post wasn’t aimed at anyone and that this was simply his way of venting. Maybe so. But in Philadelphia, everything is something.
The timing is what makes it sting. The Eagles are winning and currently perfect in the red zone this year, No. 1 in football at 100 percent.
Still, as one league source put it: “Right now, for the Eagles, it’s run, run, run, (Jalen) Hurts off-schedule pass, tush push. For their receivers, that means when they get to the red zone, they aren’t getting the ball — and they know it. Hence the frustrations.”
That may be true, but perspective matters. This is a franchise with a dominant front office led by executive vice president/general manager Howie Roseman, an adaptable coach in Nick Sirianni (whose overall record is now 58-23), a team that has won 20 of its past 21 games, and oh, right, a Super Bowl title.
“Brown doesn’t realize how bad it could be,” another league source told me. “You think if Howie Roseman is going to eventually trade him, he’s going to send him to a team with some elite quarterback? Think about how much worse it could be. Respectfully, (Brown) could still be on the 0-4 Titans. Life is good in Philly.”
“Look at last season,” a third league source added. “Philly was 2-2 and then settled in. There has to be some patience for the offense to come together. Everyone.”
Brown and Hurts have a long history. High school and college friends turned NFL teammates, Hurts is the godfather to Brown’s daughter, Jersee. A former teammate once described them as “an old married couple,” but I’m told they’re not that close these days. Like any friendship, life happens. Family responsibilities, the grind of being pros, shifting priorities. They’re friendly, but as one Eagles player described it: “It’s functional, professional.”
And here’s the reality: A No. 1 receiver wanting the ball more isn’t breaking news. Just ask the other current undefeated team what it was like dealing with a frustrated wideout. The Bills tried sitting down Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs to talk it out. It worked until it didn’t, and eventually, Diggs was shipped to Houston.
Sirianni and Roseman have already had their own private conversations with Brown to hear him out and they are managing the situation. The Eagles have not shopped him, telling teams in the offseason there was “no chance.” But rival executives are watching.
“They are paying roughly $50 million to two wide receivers (Brown and Smith), and they aren’t even that involved,” one NFL GM told me. “They may move on simply because Philly is a run-heavy team.”
A rival head coach put it another way after studying the Eagles: “Don’t let A.J. Brown tell you he isn’t getting enough targets. It’s not about the quantity. It’s about the type of targets and the situations he’s in. That’s why he’s frustrated.”
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