Eagles WR AJ Brown opens up to media, addresses coaching staff, current frustrations, and more

For the first time in two weeks, Eagles Pro Bowl wideout A.J. Brown spoke with reporters during Wednesday’s locker room availability.

Brown addressed many topics, including his rumored displeasure with the coaching staff, current overall frustrations, and more.

Not speaking with the media

“I’m not just going to continue to compound the negative with negative so you guys can write more negative stuff. You guys watch the game, too. You guys already know. So that’s why I was like, nothing more than I can say. I’m not trying to make it worse than what it is.

And then on top of that, everything that I do, if I say something, I do anything. I’m classified as a monster— honestly, it’sthe opposite. You saw my frustration on the field. It wasn’t about the play call. It wasn’t about none of that. It was about my guy getting banged up. We’re going to need [DeVonta] going forward.”

Alleged poor body language on the field

“All you see ‘A.J. Brown frustrated with the Eagles’, ‘A.J. this, A.J. that.’ Everybody in the locker room was frustrated. So why are you singling me out? Because I’m frustrated? Just because I’m shaking my head, I’m showing emotion.

You can look at everybody in the stadium has bad body language. They’re frustrated, you know? And so yeah, I wanted to clear that up, because it’s not about me. We’re all frustrated. So I wanted to clear that up.”

False reports about his character

“I’m a man, I can speak for myself. I was actually looking forward to seeing one of the reporters [Marcus Hayes] today who wrote a story, saying a veteran said something about me. I was gonna ask them, ‘Who was the veteran?’

I try to be careful with what I say because I know you guys are still gonna write it up how you wanna write it up, I was a journalism major, that’s your job.”

Desire to win, defending Brian Johnson

“I want to win. Like, I want to win. I’m trying to do everything in my power to win. I wake up before the sun comes up. I go home hours after the sun goes down. This is our life. We dedicate our whole entire life to this shit. It’s serious to us. It comes with frustration because if one man goes the wrong way a half inch, the play is over. It doesn’t work.

And that’s what happened. And that’s what actually happened that last drive. Brian [Johnson] is getting crucified on the on the play call or whatever, that second play. If somebody goes the left and blocks a certain person, it’s a 30-yard touchdown by Jalen. He runs it. So that’s why it’s the greatest game. It takes all 11.”

Nick Sirianni catching fire

“I can tell you that there may be things that Nick probably wants to fix about himself, but one thing I can respect: loyalty is not one of them. He takes up for us when it has nothing to do with him. Just like Brian, they get the wrong end of the stick when it be us. The coaches played zero snaps this year. It’s not the coaches, it’s us.

“People say I’m beefing with Nick? I’m not mad at Nick! I’m not mad at nobody. We have a great relationship. I have a ton of respect for Nick. He take up for us when it be us.

Like for the Seattle game, that was on us. We [the players] messed that up. We improvised, we went on our own, and Nick came out and said, ‘Oh, we were trying to get a flag.’ He really made himself look like a fool for us. I have nothing but respect for him, ’cause not all coaches do that.

We ride with Nick. We ride with Brian. We just gotta come out and play ball.

AJ Brown goes into detail about the final play in Seattle

Says the players improvised that long pass that resulted in an INT. Then Sirianni took full blame to protect the players. Says he really respects that

“I have nothing but respect for him” #Eagles pic.twitter.com/MXvvL1Bc81

— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) January 3, 2024

Demanding the ball during games

“If you throw me the ball 105 times, I’m going to [catch It] 106 times. That’s me as a wide receiver because I feel like I could change the game at any moment. But if I don’t get the ball, he [Jalen Hurts] may have felt like that was best. So nothing I can do that about it.

Honestly, I don’t even ask for the ball in a game. I don’t even talk to Brian, I don’t say nothing to nobody. Smitty is the more vocal one, and y’all don’t even see that. I don’t say nothing during the game, I don’t ask for the ball.

If a wide receiver says anything, he’s classified as a ‘diva’ or ‘oh, he just wants the ball.’ No, maybe I’m holding my teammates accountable, like we have those tough conversations. But if a quarterback does it, don”t nobody say nothing. But if a receiver does it, then it’s the end of the world.

That is what it is, and I can’t control that. I know who I am and I try to push my teammates. I’m not gonna change who I am.”

Pulling together for the postseason

“We’re right there. All this freaking adversity? We’re right there. That’s what happens when you tryna get to the next step. Gravity pulls against you, everything pulls against you. And I think we’re gonna fight through it, push through it, and be fine. We got the right people in this locker room. We’re gonna get it right.”

Brown also addressed the team today in a meeting, apologizing because “they shouldn’t have to answer questions on my behalf.”

“It was on his heart so he did what he felt was right. We’re always going to support whatever it is he feels, and any other player feels.” — Jalen Hurts said of Brown during his media availability.

With all the speculation surrounding Philadelphia in recent weeks, it was good to get Brown’s perspective and clear the air. It could be just what the players need to turn their season around.

Talking to other players in the locker room today, it’s obvious A.J. Brown’s apology in the team meeting and speaking to the media on his terms has landed well amongst the team. His vulnerability is speaking volumes. A true leader. #Eagles

— Gabriella Galati (@ella_galati) January 3, 2024

Mandatory Credit: Getty Images