Roughly one month ago, Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, A.J. Brown, and the team's chief security officer, Dom DiSandro, held an unprecedented, impromptu mid-practice meeting. Every indication is that it was a productive, albeit unlikely, chat.
Since the well-chronicled meeting of the minds, Brown has (mostly) kept his head down and gotten what he asked for. He's been the focal point of the Eagles' passing attack, even though it hasn't translated to success. His lack of involvement beforehand was ostensibly the root of the chatter about him being unhappy in Philadelphia, so problem solved, right?
Yet, the latest intel from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler suggests that Brown's increased usage is only a short-term fix to a looming offseason breakup.
NFL insider Jeremy Fowler lists Eagles star WR A.J. Brown as 'most interesting' offseason trade candidate
Fowler named Brown the "most interesting" trade candidate in the coming months. Folks in Philadelphia probably could've told you this months ago. However, the insider, who has been confirming what feels like a never-ending topic of discussion surrounding the club, only adds fuel to the fire.
By now, the Philadelphia faithful is well aware of Brown's hot and cold relationship with the organization, and more specifically, quarterback Jalen Hurts. He hasn't been shy about airing grievances, though his antics could be wearing thin on the Eagles to the point of no return, per Fowler:
"The weekly concerns about Brown's messaging -- from sonnets to sound bites -- must be taxing on Philadelphia's locker room, even if players understand the receiver's frustration due to the limitations of the Eagles' passing attack. Several executives I spoke to believe the Eagles could look to move Brown [this coming offseason], who is 28 and still has prime years left."Jeremy Fowler via ESPN.com
The Eagles have lost the appetite to deal with Brown. His constant (public) discontent with how the franchise operates and its offensive shortcomings has become too loud to ignore. It's an interesting turn of events, considering many have been bracing for him to ask out of Philly.
Yes, Brown comes with his fair share of baggage, and the financial logistics of sending out/acquiring him complicate matters. Nevertheless, Fowler believes the Super Bowl LIX champion would "undoubtedly have a market," indicating he has plenty left in the tank to offer another squad.
Read more: Nick Sirianni refuses to stop Jalen Hurts from doing this one thing anytime soon
Brown's sixth in total targets (48) and third in target share (30.2 percent) from Weeks 11 to 15, AKA, since talking with Lurie and "Big Dom." He hasn't just gotten the ball more; we've also seen him look more like the All-Pro caliber wideout Eagles fans know and love. His 432 receiving yards and four touchdown grabs are 10th and tied for second in the league, respectively, during this stretch.
Note: Stats courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite ($).