For the better part of a couple of years now, Philadelphia Eagles fans have had to deal with complete and total, unwarranted criticism geared at quarterback Jalen Hurts.
It's become truly remarkable and, dare I say, impressive, for people to take so much time out of their days and regular jobs, whether or not in sports, to bash a guy who is 57-25 as a starter, has been to two Super Bowls while winning one, and won a Super Bowl MVP.
It is incredible work by that crowd, to say the least. But one thing we aren't talking about enough this offseason is what Hurts is going to look like once an A.J. Brown trade is completed.
Thanks to ESPN's Bucky Brooks, though, we finally heard what Hurts' critics are unable to admit. On the air, Wednesday, Brooks had this to say during a segment on the Eagles:
"Maybe this year, we see the best of him because of A.J. being somewhere else."
Once the Philadelphia Eagles rid themselves of AJ Brown, get ready for the best Jalen Hurts yet
For true fans that have backed Hurts since Day 1, I don't think you cou'd have put it any better.
Over the last couple of years, the Eagles have had a massive distraction on their hands with wide receiver AJ Brown. It doesn't matter what Nick Sirianni says. It doesn't matter what Hurts says.
And it definitely doesn't matter what Brown says.
What we've seen and heard is enough. Brown's attitude and demand for more involvement in the offense has become a distraction that the Eagles simply cannot afford to keep around.
And, let's be fair here. Is Hurts the best deep ball passer? No! Is he going to thread the needle with the best of them? Not normally, no.
But, he's done more than a good enough job for five seasons as the Eagles' starter. And now, they've gone out and given him a weapon in Makai Lemon who will become his best friend. Getting rid of Brown and inserting Lemon is going to be a huge breath of fresh air.
Lemon can get open with the best of them. He is a slot mercinary. Hurts is not going to have to try very hard to get his rookie the football on most occasions.
On the contrary, it seemed nearly impossible to get Brown the ball. Not to mention, all of the mental games that have been played between the two of them will be gone. Hurts won't have to think as much. He can play truly free, maybe for the first time in a couple of years now.
But, Hurts critics don't want to admit that. They'll just come back to the plain old, "well, he stinks. He can't pass" type of narrative -- which is unbelievably lazy, I might add.
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Once Brown is gone, get ready to see the best version of Jalen Hurts you've ever seen. Brooks is absolutely spot-on with that take.
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