Here's the point regarding these discussions about this rumored Philadelphia Eagles dysfunction: The media has its job, and players have theirs. Sometimes, those roads intersect. That's what we saw on Sunday.
Eliot Shorr-Parks was supposed to ask any offensive player he interviewed about the offensive cohesion. He chose A.J. Brown who had just played a three-hour emotional game.
A.J. can wear his emotions on his sleeve. He's criticized for that, but that isn't a bad trait. If he never answered any questions, that would be an issue.
So, A.J. did what he thought was right. He was honest in his answer. He was authentic and genuine.
But, as you might imagine, people are angry...
People can't have it both ways. You can't spend so much of your time seeking inside access and behind-the-scenes footage and then yell 'foul' because something is said that makes you uncomfortable.
You're allowed an opinion. Opinions, however, are only as valuable as one's knowledge of the topic.
Let's make long stories short. We can agree or agree to disagree about our feelings on what A.J. said, but the rumors have to end. If you haven't spoken to Brown or Jalen Hurts, how can you say their friendship or working relationship?
A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Jalen Hurts pray together before games begin. They did so again on Sunday. Look at this. Does this look like dysfunction?
Yeah... These guys really have issues with one another, huh? #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/N6DyYMOUt9
— Inside The Iggles (@InsideIggles) December 10, 2024
By now, you've also heard the Brandon Graham angle. He appeared on WIP-FM's Brandon Graham Show on Monday. He offered his theories about what was said when asked and later thought better of it because he admittedly didn't have enough information to comment. He told ESPN's Tim McManus he would apologize to A.J. and Jalen.
“I know 1 is trying and 11 could be better with how he responds to things. They were friends, but things have changed.”
Brandon Graham gives insight to the AJ Brown/Jalen Hurts drama: pic.twitter.com/RcouHPGK43
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) December 9, 2024
"I made a mistake and I assumed that it was something that it wasn’t. I just want to win so bad that I don’t just want to use the media when we need to talk about something and we can fix the problem ourselves. I didn’t add to it in a good light so that’s my bad.”
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) December 10, 2024
There's nothing wrong with that. He admitted he made a mistake. He promised to correct it.
He appeared on WIP's Morning Show on Tuesday and offered another apology. Again, we respect that. He made a public assumption and expressed remorse publicly.
“First, I want to start off by just apologizing to my guys. I was going to see them today anyway, but I want to start first here publicly since we all was here. I made the assumption. I didn’t know all the details and I still don’t.
I was just like, ‘Dang.’ I just really saw everything that y’all saw with the video. and I was just reacting to that. And, I should have used a little more logic on it. It was more just on me just wanting people to pretty much, man, I just want to win pretty much."
B.G. continued...
“For me … everything I said I didn’t want him to do, I did too. I want to own that. As always, we gotta stand up through the good and the bad. Right now, I don’t think it’s that bad. I think it’s a great thing because chaos definitely creates diamonds.
Pressure makes diamonds. I feel like this is about to be something we’re going to bounce back from really good."
This brings it all home for us.
“We all make mistakes. This was one of my mistakes. You’re never too proud of no mistakes. but it’s something that I’m going to definitely learn from. And, I know, for sure, those guys when I do talk to them, they’re going to understand where I’m coming from on why I assumed just based off the video of A.J. I know we gonna get right because them boys definitely want to win.
That’s why he was frustrated. I’m gonna ride with A.J. on the frustration because he just wants to win. 1 (Jalen Hurts) a winner. All of us just want to win for the city and we all made some mistakes in this one.”
Well said B.G.!
Look, we get why you're frustrated. We remember the Donovan McNabb vs. Terrell Owens thing. We remember last season's collapse, but breathe easy. From, where we're sitting, it seems obvious. This isn't history repeating