New England Patriots
“That wink is all simply enjoyable and video games.”
The AFC champion Patriots skilled unprecedented success after they reached Tremendous Bowl LX this previous season, however the staff could look totally different in 2026-27.
New England’s receiving corps may very well be one space that modifications.
The Patriots might decide out of the second yr of large receiver Stefon Diggs’s contract, releasing as much as $16.8 million in cap house. That would go away New England with a evident want on the place; even when Diggs remained with the Patriots, the group might nonetheless look to enhance at WR.
Enter Philadelphia Eagles WR A.J. Brown, who has been related to New England as a possible commerce goal.
In a current episode of former Patriots Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski’s “Dudes On Dudes” podcast, Brown winked when Edelman requested the next:
“Simply bear in mind, we’re all Patriots. You understand that, proper?”
Gronkowski requested Brown if he needed to be a Patriot, and Brown shut the query down with a smile.
“No, no, no! I’m trolling. I’m trolling.”
Brown’s Eagles teammate, operating again Saquon Barkley, downplayed the WR’s wink Friday.
“He is a big Patriots fan. He’s a kind of guys,” Barkley stated on ESPN’s NFL Dwell. “He’s at all times been a giant Patriots fan. I feel this yr, earlier than [a game against the] Dallas [Cowboys], Tom Brady, he was throwing him the ball. So for him, he was like a child in a sweet retailer. That wink is simply all enjoyable and video games.”
Whereas Brown could have been trolling, a report from a NFL insider could point out that there was some reality.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter stated final month {that a} Brown-Patriots commerce is sensible to him.
“I feel he turns into a commerce candidate right here. There’s been sufficient noise round that and him wanting out,” Schefter stated. “I feel it could be a shock if there weren’t talks if there weren’t talks to see what he might carry again [in a trade].”
Brown reportedly requested to be traded from the Eagles “a number of instances” final season, in accordance with Bleeding Green Nation’s Joseph Santoliquito. The 28-year-old receiver is coming off one of many worst seasons of his profession, through which he caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and 7 touchdowns. He acquired the fewest first downs (47) since his rookie yr (39).
At instances final season, Brown was visibly annoyed together with his function. Brown and Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni have been seen going back and forth on the sideline in the course of the staff’s Wild Card loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Brown additionally dedicated two drops within the defeat.
Brown not too long ago admitted that he used to “hate” enjoying for present Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel throughout their time collectively on the Tennessee Titans. Nevertheless, it appears like time has healed these wounds.
“Vrabe is the kind of coach that he’s going to name on you within the conferences,” Brown advised Edelman and Gronkowski. “He desires to be sure to’re staying engaged and he’s going to go over the keys to victory of the week. You higher know them by the again of your hand. I used to put in writing in my pocket book as a result of on the time, I actually didn’t like Vrabes. I didn’t like him, and I admit that he is aware of that. So, I used to put in writing, ‘I hate Vrabes, I hate Vrabes, I hate Vrabes.’ I used to be doing that to fake like I used to be taking notes to appear to be I used to be engaged.
“However as a result of he was so arduous on me once I was a rookie and I actually didn’t perceive it. So, on the time I advised Vrabes like, ‘Hey, like I’m humble already. You don’t acquired to humble me.’ However I actually didn’t perceive what he was making an attempt to, , push me to be.”
Brown additionally recalled a time when Vrabel known as out his effort. The WR defined why he appreciates that type of teaching in hindsight.
“After I say he holds each single participant accountable from prime to backside, I don’t care who it’s, like that’s who he’s. And it makes the staff come collectively as a result of no person is larger than the staff. No person is larger than this system, so you must respect it.”
Schefter recognized the Brown-Vrabel connection as an element that might propel a deal to get executed this offseason.
“To me, I can see him enjoying in New England subsequent yr underneath Mike Vrabel. Like, that might make quite a lot of sense to me. So, the Patriots have been available on the market for a receiver for fairly some time. Mike Vrabel in all probability rued the day that they ever traded A.J. Brown [with the Titans]. I can see the Patriots rolling the cube on a man like that. I feel his title will come up in commerce talks this offseason.”
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