Despite securing an 11-2 record with a victory over the Carolina Panthers, the Philadelphia Eagles may be contending with off-the-field turbulence as frustration within the team begins to mount.
Star wide receiver A.J. Brown has emerged as a focal point of these tensions, and speculation about his future with the team is growing.
Reports suggest Brown could seek a trade in the offseason, citing dissatisfaction with quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ overall offensive strategy.
Brown’s discontent was apparent in his postgame remarks.
When asked what the Eagles’ offense needed to improve, his response was sharp and revealing: “Passing.”
While Philadelphia’s success this season has largely hinged on its running game and defense, the aerial attack has lagged behind, ranking 31st in the league with a meager 180.6 passing yards per game.
There is growing concern that Hurts will never develop into a consistently reliable passer.
The offense’s struggles appear to have exacerbated Brown’s concerns.
At 27 years old and six years into his NFL career, Brown is reportedly eager to maximize his prime years in a more dynamic offensive system.
Brown, known for his career reception percentage of 66.2%, has amassed 7,175 receiving yards and 49 touchdowns since entering the league.
His proficiency in contested catch situations and ability to generate yards after the catch – totaling an impressive 2,549 YAC.
Brown’s frustration with the Eagles’ passing game raises questions about how long he will remain patient in Philadelphia.
Of course, it’s not a good look for any player to publicly throw a teammate under the bus, especially when your record is 11-2.
Eagles defensive captain Brandon Graham wasn’t about to let his injury get in the way of his WIP appearance yesterday.
Graham ended up making some very revealing comments about the fractured relationship between Hurts and Brown.
“I don’t know the whole story, but I know that 1 (Hurts) is trying. 11 (Brown) could be a little better with how he responds to things. They were friends, but things have changed,” Graham said.
“And I understand that because life happens. But (on) the business side, we got to make sure we don’t let the personal get in the way of the business. And that’s what we need to do better.”
Graham quickly realized the damage he caused by being so honest, and attempted to backtrack.
“I just assumed [about their friendship] and it made me out to look even worse because I had it all wrong and now people are going to run with that part,” he said.
“I really just want to win, man, and I want brothers to be able to just hash it out. I’m going to make sure I apologize to both of them.”
Graham can apologize all he wants. And it’s true he shouldn’t have pulled back the curtain the way he did. But the bottom line is he said what he said, and it’s safe to assume there’s a great deal of truth to his words.
It’s well-known that Brown can be a bit of a headache and is tough to deal with.
However, the fact that he’s being such a distraction while playing on an 11-2 Super Bowl contender is extremely concerning.
Perhaps Brown and Hurts can work things out man-to-man and come out better for it. But if not, you could very easily see Brown shipped out of town after the season.
What are your thoughts on the drama in Philly?
Will Brown be traded after the season???
