Eagles coach Nick Sirianni defends A.J. Brown after loss
Wide receiver attracted spotlight for all the wrong reasons
From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/52jwz4kc
PHILADELPHIA — Eagles coach Nick Sirianni defended A.J. Brown after Sunday’s 23-19 playoff loss to the 49ers in which the wide receiver dropped three passes and was engaged in some sideline fireworks.
“He’s got the best hands I’ve ever seen,” Sirianni said. “The way he catches the ball, the amount of different types of catches that he’s made. When you get as many targets as he does, you’re going to have some drops. Not ever using an excuse, but the ball moves differently in the wind.
“But yeah, I know he will beat himself up on that.”
One of Brown’s drops came on the final drive. Another drop would have been a difficult catch. He finished with three receptions for 25 yards on seven targets.
Sirianni and Brown got into a heated exchange toward the end of the first half after the coach ran down the sideline yelling at the receiver and left tackle Jordan Mailata to get off the field after a failed third down. Brown responded angrily and he and Sirianni were casually separated by “Big Dom” DiSandro, the team’s chief security officer.
“I was trying to get him off the field because we were about to punt, and that was really it,” Sirianni said. “I love A.J. I think he knows how I feel about him. I have a special relationship with him. We’ve probably gone through every emotion you can possibly have together. We’ve laughed together, we’ve cried together, we’ve yelled at each other. We’re both emotional. I was trying to get him off the field, and that happens in this game. That happens in this game, but I love him.”
Brown, who didn’t appear in the locker room to speak with reporters after the game, had 78 catches for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns this year. He repeatedly expressed frustration with his underuse, particularly in the first half and the season, and the offense’s struggles overall.
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Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.