New England Patriots
Brown used to write down “I hate [Vrabel]” in a pocket book throughout crew conferences. Issues are totally different now, he says.
AJ Brown wasn’t Mike Vrabel’s largest fan throughout their early days collectively in Tennessee.
Throughout a latest episode of the “Dudes on Dudes” podcast, Brown instructed Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski that his relationship with Vrabel has developed over time. Again then, they weren’t as “comfy” with one another as they’re now, Brown stated.
“I at all times bear in mind this essential second with [Vrabel]. I’ll provide you with some inside too. Two tales actually fast,” Brown stated. “So, [Vrabel] is the kind of coach who, he’s going to name on you within the conferences. He’s going to ensure you’re staying engaged and he’s going to go over the keys to victory for the week. You higher know them just like the again of your hand.”
“I used to write down in my pocket book -because on the time I didn’t actually like [Vrabel] – I didn’t like him, I’ll admit it, he is aware of that. So, I used to write down ‘I hate [Vrabel], I hate [Vrabel], I hate [Vrabel].”
Brown stated he was pretending to take notes in order that it could appear like he was paying consideration. Throughout his rookie 12 months, he didn’t perceive why Vrabel appeared to be so exhausting on him.
“On the time, I instructed [Vrabel], I used to be like ‘hey I’m humble already’, you don’t must humble me. However, I didn’t perceive what he was attempting to push me to be.”
Brown recorded the primary of his six 1,000-yard seasons that 12 months in 2019. He caught 52 passes for 1,051 yards and eight touchdowns. The Titans made the playoffs and knocked the Patriots out within the Wild Card Spherical earlier than dropping to the Chiefs within the AFC Championship recreation.
Brown recalled one other occasion when the coach caught his consideration.
“He confirmed a clip, I ran like a Bang-8 and I scored. He praised me, so I used to be sort of feeling good about myself, proper? I’m a rookie. A few performs later, he exhibits me one other play with the Bang 8 and I get tackled.”
“He’s like ‘what’s the distinction between the primary play and the second play?’ He was like ‘you’re drained.’ He was like ‘that’s not going to chop it’. That very same mentality that you simply confirmed on the primary play, it’s best to do this on a regular basis. That’s who you’re.”
The usual that Vrabel holds his gamers to caught with the extensive receiver.
“After I say that he holds each single [person] accountable from high to backside, I don’t care who it’s. That’s who he’s and it makes the crew come collectively as a result of no one is larger than the crew, no one is larger than this system, so you must respect it.”
Quick-forward to 2026, and Vrabel is teaching the Patriots who nonetheless have room for enchancment on the receiver place. Brown is steadily developing as a possible commerce candidate. The Patriots had been one in all 4 groups that ESPN used as hypothetical commerce locations for Brown final week. Brown has additionally talked about publicly that he grew up a Patriots fan.
He’s nonetheless underneath contract with the Eagles, so it could take some draft capital for the Patriots to get him. That hasn’t stopped the hypothesis of doable curiosity from the Patriots one bit.
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