29/01/2023
“Always open,” the sign on A.J. Brown’s locker proclaims. It also happens to be his Twitter handle. And Sunday, we’ll find out if he’s a big-game receiver or just a wanna-be Wawa.
Let’s face it, when the Eagles pulled off a trade for the star wide receiver who couldn’t get the Tennessee Titans to make a lifetime commitment, he wanted to be loved. The Eagles hugged him with a four-year, $100 million contract, with $57 million guaranteed.
What did the Eagles want in return? Well, truth be told, it isn’t 156 yards and three touchdowns against the Steelers when the Eagles already were 6-0, or 181 yards against the Bears when the Eagles already were 12-1. Sure, Brown piled up impressive numbers during the regular season: 88 catches for 1,496 yards and 11 TDs. And often lost on his resume is the line that says, “And I helped DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert get open.”
But $100 million must buy big performances in big games, and, with a Super Bowl trip hanging in the balance, the NFC Championship Game on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field is the biggest game on Brown’s career log.
Last week, in the divisional playoff win against the Giants — the previous biggest game — Brown had just three catches for 22 yards. Even inflation won’t explain spending $100M for that, and Brown realizes it. So, he sent a message to his buddy, quarterback Jalen Hurts, through the media.
“Throw the ball to me 100 times,” Brown said, “and I’m going to want it 101 times. I just feel like I can change the game. Getting the ball often keeps you in the rhythm. It puts you in the zone. Locked in. Of course, I want the ball.”
Meanwhile, head coach Nick Sirianni is doing his best to keep his star wide receiver from becoming a distraction. To his credit, Brown has been on his best behavior since he arrived in Philadelphia.
“Not really anybody in the pass game really got a lot of targets or a lot of opportunities because we were running the ball so well,” Sirianni said. “But that’s what you want from your receivers, to want to have the football. Part of the reason receivers are good is because they want and crave the football. They want the ball to change the game. But make no mistake about it, he was thrilled that we won the football game.”
Because one thing’s for sure: The Niners will not allow running back Miles Sanders (and others) to grind out first downs, like the Giants did. Boston Scott will not become a Niners-killer.
Brown spent the week insisting he was OK with his six targets against the Giants, but you get the feeling he’s simmering behind the smile. And the Eagles are likely to call something early in the game to get him involved — and keep him happy and motivated.
“I’m never the receiver to go on the sideline to try and cause problems on the sideline,” Brown said. “I’m not that person. I’m a guy who goes and talks to the quarterback or talks to the OC and do it that way. I’m not out to cause commotion on the sideline. That’s not who I am. I’d never be that guy.”
The Eagles don’t need him to be That Guy, they need him to be That Big Game Guy.
“I know I’ve got a bi“Always open,” the sign on A.J. Brown’s locker proclaims. It also happens to be his Twitter handle. And Sunday, we’ll find out if he’s a big-game receiver or just a wanna-be Wawa.
Let’s face it, when the Eagles pulled off a trade for the star wide receiver who couldn’t get the Tennessee Titans to make a lifetime commitment, he wanted to be loved. The Eagles hugged him with a four-year, $100 million contract, with $57 million guaranteed.
What did the Eagles want in return? Well, truth be told, it isn’t 156 yards and three touchdowns against the Steelers when the Eagles already were 6-0, or 181 yards against the Bears when the Eagles already were 12-1. Sure, Brown piled up impressive numbers during the regular season: 88 catches for 1,496 yards and 11 TDs. And often lost on his resume is the line that says, “And I helped DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert get open.”
But $100 million must buy big performances in big games, and, with a Super Bowl trip hanging in the balance, the NFC Championship Game on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field is the biggest game on Brown’s career log.
Last week, in the divisional playoff win against the Giants — the previous biggest game — Brown had just three catches for 22 yards. Even inflation won’t explain spending $100M for that, and Brown realizes it. So, he sent a message to his buddy, quarterback Jalen Hurts, through the media.
“Throw the ball to me 100 times,” Brown said, “and I’m going to want it 101 times. I just feel like I can change the game. Getting the ball often keeps you in the rhythm. It puts you in the zone. Locked in. Of course, I want the ball.”
Meanwhile, head coach Nick Sirianni is doing his best to keep his star wide receiver from becoming a distraction. To his credit, Brown has been on his best behavior since he arrived in Philadelphia.
“Not really anybody in the pass game really got a lot of targets or a lot of opportunities because we were running the ball so well,” Sirianni said. “But that’s what you want from your receivers, to want to have the football. Part of the reason receivers are good is because they want and crave the football. They want the ball to change the game. But make no mistake about it, he was thrilled that we won the football game.”
Because one thing’s for sure: The Niners will not allow running back Miles Sanders (and others) to grind out first downs, like the Giants did. Boston Scott will not become a Niners-killer.
Brown spent the week insisting he was OK with his six targets against the Giants, but you get the feeling he’s simmering behind the smile. And the Eagles are likely to call something early in the game to get him involved — and keep him happy and motivated.
“I’m never the receiver to go on the sideline to try and cause problems on the sideline,” Brown said. “I’m not that person. I’m a guy who goes and talks to the quarterback or talks to the OC and do it that way. I’m not out to cause commotion on the sideline. That’s not who I am. I’d never be that guy.”
The Eagles don’t need him to be That Guy, they need him to be That Big Game Guy.
“I know I’ve got a big week ahead of me,” Brown said. “I’m not worried about it, and I don’t think nobody else should either because it’s not a big deal.”
Wrong. It’s a big deal. A huge deal. A $100 million deal.
g week ahead of me,” Brown said. “I’m not worried about it, and I don’t think nobody else should either because it’s not a big deal.”
Wrong. It’s a big deal. A huge deal. A $100 million deal.
