He’s been signed sealed and delivered. Or shall we say, he’s been sealed, delivered, and now signed? On the first Monday of May, A.J. Brown arrived at the NovaCare Complex. He put pen to paper on that brand spanking new four-year, $100-million extension, and with the knowledge that he still had one year remaining on the rookie deal he signed with the Tennessee Titans back in 2019, Philadelphia Eagles fans can rest easy knowing that one of the best young wide receivers in the game will be in the City of Brotherly Love through 2026.
A.J. spent a little over 11 minutes with the media for his first-ever sit-down as a member of the midnight green. There weren’t any major fireworks, but we did, however, leave that discussion with a few things that we can talk about.
Here are three highlights from A.J. Brown’d first press conference as a member of the Eagles.
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen someone smile so broadly. New opportunities will, sometimes, do that for you. A.J. Brown spent the first three years of his NFL career in Tennessee with the Titans, so naturally, it’s expected that there will be mixed emotions about the transition.
That was one of the first things he addressed in his chat with select members of the Philly media. Here’s what he had to say:
"Like I said, it was bittersweet. I was a little sad the Titans (were) on board with the trade, but it’s a part of the business and that’s fine. But, once everything got done and the trade went through and Jalen (Hurts) called me, he made it a lot easier… Like I said, it’s been bittersweet, but I’m also so excited to be a part of this great organization"
On his friendship with Jalen Hurts, Brown offered a few more thoughts.
"It started (when) he was recruiting me to Alabama. I chose Ole Miss, but we stayed in contact this entire time. We became really close friends. I’m extremely excited to play with him. We always joked about it, you know? But, we never thought it would be reality… We talk all of the time… We already have that friendship, so we can hold each other accountable. We know what makes each other tick."
Brown also stated that, “when you run into good people, you try to stay close to them, and he (Jalen) was one person that I considered a really good friend”, but in the end, football is a results-driven business. That’s what the organization and fans are looking for.
Is Jalen the man to lead this team on offense going forward? Can A.J. Brown, long considered one of the best wide receivers in the league help his signal-caller take the next step? That’s what everyone hopes to find out.
There aren’t any issues with the new Eagle’s confidence. Here’s how Brown feels about his game.
"I’m one of the top guys in the league. I’m confident in how I play and what I bring to the table. I’m glad the Eagles believe in me."
It’s hard to remember the last time that there was this type of buzz surrounding the Eagles’ decision to add a receiver to the roster. DeSean Jackson’s return was exciting, but it wasn’t like this, right? Neither was the decision to add Torrey Smith and Alshon Jeffery in 2017.
Dare we say we haven’t been this excited since the Eagles traded for Terrell Owens? Sure, the circumstances were different. That Eagles team was a contender. This version is still trying to find its way, but adding A.J. Brown to the offense is a nice way to get the ball rolling. We can’t wait to see how things play out.
Make no mistake about it. A.J. Brown is here to win.
"All I care about (is) winning. I’m not a big regular-season guy. I want to win it all. That’s my expectations coming into this building. I’m not trying to put expectations on the team, but I want to win. I haven’t won (a championship) since I was in high school. I know this is a great team (and) a great organization that can get it done."
Oh, and the answer to your question is yes. He will wear the number 11 jersey.