The Philadelphia Eagles are looking like Super Bowl contenders again as the NFL season's second half continues. As great as things have been going in the City of Brotherly Love, though, one of the Eagles' best players has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Once again, star wide receiver A.J. Brown has made the rounds for all the wrong reasons. He went on a now-viral rant while streaming a Madden session, complaining about his lack of involvement in the passing game, and he doubled down on his comments by stating that he wasn't going to apologize.
People speculated that some of those comments may have been a dig at quarterback Jalen Hurts, after the Eagles' signal-caller made it clear he doesn't want any unnecessary distractions at this point in the season.
"We've got the Detroit Lions, so I'm going to definitely put a halt to that," Hurts said on Wednesday (h/t @SportsRadioWIP). "I think the more we drive that, the more of a distraction it becomes, and I think ultimately it's about the group."
However, per PHLY Sports' EJ Smith, Brown' problems don't lie with Hurts.
A.J. Brown's Is Frustrated with Eagles' Coaches, Not Jalen Hurts
"Certain plays have different reads, despite what it looks like when someone takes a screenshot, you can't go off that," Brown said on Wednesday, according to Smith. "(Hurts) has certain reads, he has a lot going on in his head that he's trying to process, and then he has the pressure in his face."
While he's clearly not satisfied with the way things are going, it's refreshing to hear that Brown doesn't think Hurts is freezing him out or anything like that. Given the history of what happens when QBs and WRs aren't on the same page in the NFL, it's encouraging to know that Philly's stars aren't at odds as the team chases a Super Bowl repeat.
Nevertheless, Brown isn't going to let anybody off the hook. It's clear that he believes offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo needs to do a better job of helping the Eagles' attack. He thinks other teams have adapted to what they do, and he's not contributing to their recent success:
“I feel like we do need to do a better job of creating for me, trying to help put me in a situation to help, to contribute,” Brown said, per The Athletic's Brooks Kubena. The Eagles star's concerns come on the heels of his seeing a season-low three targets in last week's 10-7 win over the Green Bay Packers.
Brown does have some valid points. The Eagles rank 25th in passing yards per game (191.7) and 23rd in total yards per game (303.2) this season. They're also 27th in third-down conversion percentage (34.9%), mostly because they're constantly falling behind the sticks and facing third-and-long situations.
Brown hasn't been much of a factor this season, as his 71.9 Pro Football Focus grade ranks 33rd among 83 eligible wideouts. While it's important for him not to let any mental roadblocks get in his way, it's equally as crucial for the Eagles' game planners to put him in a spot to succeed.
Hopefully, Patullo & Co. are listening closely, especially if they want Brown to remain an offensive mainstay in Philly for years to come.