PHILADELPHIA — Eagles coach Nick Sirianni blamed the media Wednesday for the team’s persistent A.J. Brown drama.
“I’m close to being done answering these questions with this,” Sirianni said. “He’s working hard and he is a big part of this game plan, and he’ll be a big part of the game plan going forward. He’s working like crazy when he is here and I’m excited to have him.”
But Brown, a generational talent, was targeted just three times in Monday night’s 10-7 win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The following day, the star receiver expressed his continued displeasure during a Madden video game stream that his role in the Philly offense is a “s— show” and that people who have him on their fantasy teams should get rid of him, ostensibly because he isn’t getting adequate opportunities.
“If you look at the game and how the game went, there are a lot of plays in that game that are going to him that for different reasons don’t,” Sirianni said. “For instance, (WR DeVonta Smith) Smitty’s touchdown, that play is going to A.J. They took it away, and (QB Jalen Hurts) threw it over the top.
“You can’t just look at stats,” Sirianni added. “You can’t paint the picture that way. I know that sometimes is all the information that you guys may have, but you can’t look at it that way and just say, ‘Here’s how the game is playing out.’ There are reasons and different things.
“A.J. Brown is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, so of course we’re trying to get him involved in the game every single time. Sometimes it goes like it did in the Rams game or the Vikings game and sometimes it goes like it did in this last game.”
Brown had a combined 10 catches on 16 targets for 230 yards and three touchdowns in the Rams and Vikings games in Week 3 and Week 7. He spoke with the media about his frustrations Wednesday evening.
“It’s not solely about my situation,” Brown said in the locker room at NovaCare Complex. “Obviously, I want to win, too. I think if we’re really focusing on winning and doing our job, we can’t just keep slapping the band-aid over the defense doing their job and getting us out of trouble.
“At what point are we going to pick up our slack as an offense? We’re so great, you know? That’s what I’m getting at. It’s not about I don’t care about winning and all I care about is stats. No. It’s been, week after week sometimes, we’re not contributing, we’re not doing our job on offense. You can’t just keep slapping the band-aid over that.
“You expect to win late in the year and you think you can go to it at the end of the year, it’s not going to f—ing happen. It’s not going to happen. It’s not going to happen. Last year is what it was. Thanks for the ring. But it’s a new season. We have to adapt. We have to continue to get better, to find new ways. That’s where the frustration comes in. It’s not about winning, you guys. I want to win, yes. I want to help contribute to it as well. Do our thing on offense as well. I think that’s fair.”
The Eagles have failed to make full use of Brown — a dynamic weapon whom most coaches would dream of scheming for and stay up at night finding ways to feature. Instead, he’s mostly used as a blocker and a decoy and barely sees the ball.
Imagine how some comparable receivers would react in his position: Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Brandon Marshall. Perhaps Brown, with his social-media posts and occasional comments, should actually be commended for his restraint.
Of course, it’s all situational and contextual, as Sirianni pointed out, but three targets is three targets.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles are 7-2. That’s what matters most. Sirianni is 5-0 after byes, and the Birds’ defense looked fantastic in Green Bay. But an offense that started humming for two weeks before the break suddenly stalled at Lambeau.
Credit certainly goes to the Packers’ defense. And Eagles receivers frequently failed to achieve separation against the Green Bay coverages and secondary. But how long is Brown supposed to stay engaged when his talents are being grossly underused?
“I don’t care if I’m misunderstood,” Brown said. “I’ll stand up in front of there and fall on that sword over and over again. It’s about doing what we’re supposed to be doing on offense. If we are really in this business to try and get better, we gotta do what we gotta do and not just say, ‘Oh, it’s about wins. As long as you got the win, it’s cool.’ No. You cannot do that. Not in this league. You gotta continue to get better. We gotta do what we have to do on offense to help the defense, to help the special teams.”
If the season ended today, the Eagles would be the No. 1 seed in the NFC. So criticisms of the reigning Super Bowl champions may be overblown nitpicking, particularly when players on the O-line have been injured. But it’s clear the offense has been inconsistent, which is a fair concern looking down the road to the postseason.
Alexander gone for good?
It sounds like cornerback Jaire Alexander stepping away from football might be long-term, if not permanent, based on Sirianni’s comments Wednesday.
“I think (he’s) getting away for his health,” Sirianni said. “I respect that. I really enjoyed my short time with him and wish him the best.
“We were just really excited to get him in here, and again, just know that he’s stepping away for health reasons. Like I said, just wish him the best.”
The Eagles acquired Alexander from the Baltimore Ravens ahead of the trade deadline, but he has been dealing with physical and mental hygiene issues in recent months.
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Source: Berkshire mont