In most markets, AJ Brown’s comment after the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory wouldn’t have gotten much attention.
In Philadelphia, it became a big deal.
After a close win against the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday, Brown was asked what the offense needs to improve on.
“Passage,” Brown said..
And that was enough to cause a mini soap opera, with speculation about the relationship between Brown and quarterback Jalen Hurts. Imagine the reaction if the Eagles weren’t on a nine-game winning streak.
Brown spoke to reporters Wednesday and attempted to clarify his comments. He said he wasn’t just talking about Hurts when he said the passing game needs to improve. He also said he and Hurts had no issues. We will see if this calms the controversy.
Brown had a pretty simple explanation for why he said the passing game needed to improve. The Eagles only threw for 108 yards against the Panthers. Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley is on track to break the NFL single-season rushing record.
And it’s not just the quarterback’s responsibility to say the passing game needs to improve, he said. It’s everyone, including the quarterback, receivers and offensive line.
“When he asked the question of what the offense can do best, it’s obviously not about running the ball. (Barkley) is about to win the MVP award. Like, literally,” Brown told reporters: via Eliot Shorr-Parks of WIP. “So what else do we do in attack? We have to pass the ball. It can be used for protection, it’s about recovering a block, it allows us to open up quicker, to be on the same length ‘wave, reads Jalen, whatever. Maybe it’s a bunch of guys put together. They kind of spun it that way.
Brown said he made his comments for a reason. He remembers last season, coming off a Super Bowl loss and losing six of seven games, including a playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Eagles are 11-2 this season and have room to improve.
“This is something we can fix right now while we have the chance,” Brown said. “That’s why I made everyone aware. It’s something we can focus on. We know we can run the ball. Saquon is doing a great job. We’re not against running the ball.”
The original story could have died a quick death if one of Brown’s teammates hadn’t given it a little more life.
Jalen Hurts and Brown are “good”
Defensive end Brandon Graham, who has been with the Eagles for 15 seasons and is on injured reserve, said this week that Brown and Hurts were “friends before that, but it’s like, man, things have changed and I understand that because life happens.”
Hurts told the media Wednesday that he and Brown were “good,” and Brown repeated the same thing.
“BG was just BG,” Brown told reporters, via Shorr-Parks. “He was emotional, in this case he just misspoke. Jalen and I are fine.”
That doesn’t mean there won’t be problems if the Eagles start losing games or if there’s another reason to reignite the drama. But for now, the Eagles are an 11-2 team that may be playing better than any other team in the NFL, and a flippant comment about the passing game needing to improve shouldn’t be a big problem.
But these are the Eagles. Once that’s settled, there will be something else to say.
