By now everyone has seen A.J. Brown’s sideline tirade during Thursday’s contest against the Minnesota Vikings, but most missed the wide receiver’s modest mea culpa after the game.
During the game, Brown was clearly upset with seeing just six targets in a game the Eagles eventually won, 34-28. His exchange with quarterback Jalen Hurts got so heated that head coach Nick Sirianni had to step in.
However, Brown appeared to take ownership of the incident and apologize to fans before he left the field. Have a look:
Didn’t see this until now: Looks like #Eagles WR AJ Brown took ownership of his sideline argument with Hurts at the end of the game.
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 16, 2023
It’s subtle, but counts for something. pic.twitter.com/PkNssr7hnL
It’s a smart move by Brown for several reasons. First, his relationship with Hurts predates his time in Philadelphia. Hurts is the godfather of Brown’s daughter and a big reason why the team traded for the talented receiver.
Second, sideline arguments are fine, but they don’t sit well with fans when the team is winning. The Eagles were up by 13 points at the time of the exchange, and after the game, whispers of Terrell Owens could be heard around water coolers throughout the Delaware Valley.
Finally, if recent history is any indication, Brown is due for a big game when the Eagles face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on “Monday Night Football” on Sept. 25. Running back D’Andre Swift had a single carry for three yards against the Patriots in Week 1, only to explode for 175 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings.
Surely, better days are ahead for Brown, and now that he's made amends with Eagles fans, they can feel better about their Pro Bowl wide receiver.
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