They say professional athletes have to be coached differently than college athletes. This may not last long. The NCAA, home to millionaire athletes, now has its own free agency.
Still, there’s something to be said about the difference between some coaches in the Big Ten or SEC and the job Nick Sirianni is being asked to do. Maybe you’ve heard of it. The Philadelphia Eagles are a big business and they have a lot of superstars.
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Coach Sirianni may not be an “X” and “O” kind of guy. We’ve seemingly been taught this lesson over and over again, but we’ve also learned that he can teach a masterclass in locker room cohesion. He is the leader of mankind. He’s tougher than people think, but he also knows when to hug someone.
AJ Brown is closely watched, and some of the criticism is justified. You can’t ask for the ball more often and not be able to finish when the ball comes your way.
Now, Brown is defending himself. Of course there are other factors at play. His quarterback is struggling, and defenses are focusing on him given Saquon Barkley’s issues.
Brown usually gets compliments on his hands, but lately, he’s been getting more compliments. Criticisms followed, but Nick Sirianni, as always, stood up and defended the three-time All-Pro, who is one of the best receivers not only in Philadelphia but in the entire league.
“It’s just an unusual thing. I don’t know if AJ has declined in the last two years. I don’t know what the stat sheet will say about him, but it’s just an unusual thing.”
He’s right, you know. If the numbers are correct, Brown’s performance hasn’t dipped since Week 15 of the 2023 NFL season, which was Christmas of that year. Brown not only has great hands. He makes impossible catches look normal. He will recover from this.
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The exact reasons why we love Him are exactly why He sometimes irritates us. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, but it’s his emotions that make him who he is. Without them, he’s not the same person or the same player.
Still, Monday Night Football’s downturn resulted in an interception and a missed touchdown opportunity. The three-time All-Pro knows this. Don’t worry. He will solve this problem. Coach Sirianni isn’t worried. Neither are we.
Here’s our bold prediction: 10 catches and at least 1 touchdown against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Nick Sirianni backs AJ Brown over ‘unusual’ defective surface
