Nine months ago, the Philadelphia Eagles were celebrating a Super Bowl win. But in recent days, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and star receiver A.J. Brown met for very different reasons.
Sal Paolantonio of ESPN.com reports that Lurie and Brown came together this week “to hash out the star wide receiver’s public frustration over his role in Philadelphia’s offense.” The meeting, first mentioned on Thursday by John Clark of NBC 10 in Philadelphia, was coordinated by jack-of-all-trades Dom DiSandro and lasted about 10 minutes.
As Paolantonio explains, Brown promised Lurie that he would stop complaining on social media. However, Brown made it clear that he “just wants to be a part of the offense and is frustrated.” His deeper message is that the offense isn’t doing enough to improve. According to Brown, winning games despite not moving the ball effectively is just a “Band-Aid” solution.
Brown’s recent comments during a midweek press availability emphasized that he believes winning alone isn’t good enough if the offense isn’t progressing. This stance appeared to directly counter quarterback Jalen Hurts’s remarks following Monday night’s 10-7 win at Green Bay, a game that featured an offense lacking flow, consistency, and identity.
At the heart of the issue is the relationship—or lack thereof—between Brown and Hurts. It seems they are not truly on the same page, which contributes to Brown not getting the ball more often. Whether the reasons are professional, personal, or a mix of both, the situation is likely to persist until Hurts starts targeting Brown more frequently, especially when Brown is facing single coverage.
Brown’s promise to the owner will surely be tested in those quiet moments when his frustrations inevitably resurface. Until then, all eyes will be on how the Eagles’ offense evolves and whether Brown’s role grows in the months ahead.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/eagles-owner-jeffrey-lurie-wr-a-j-brown-met-this-week
