A.J. Brown Says Eagles' Locker Room Is 'Fine' amid Rumors of Behind-the-Scenes Issues
February 23, 2024
As the Philadelphia Eagles' 2023 season spun well out of control, rumors emerged of a fractured locker room, with wide receiver A.J. Brown at the "epicenter" and murmurs of players' discontent with head coach Nick Sirianni and his staff.
However, Brown said in a conversation on SportsRadio 94 WIP (h/t Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk) that "the locker room is fine."
"Players wasn't executing, that's what it came down to," Brown added. "I think the media ran with the coaches, blame the coaches. I never blame the coaches, I'm not the person to blame the coach...It was the players not executing."
On Jan. 1, Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Brown "is at the epicenter of a fractured locker room that cannot handle adversity and has little faith in its coaches, but as a leader, he should be handling it better."
That report was provided in the middle of the team losing five of its last six regular-season games before falling 32-9 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs.
It was certainly a disappointing season for the Eagles, who were coming into last season as the reigning NFC champs and began the year with a 10-1 record. But the wheels well off offensively and defensively down the stretch.
Now the Eagles will go into 2024 with a new offensive coordinator (Kellen Moore) and defensive coordinator (Vic Fangio). Sirianni remains aboard.
As for the locker room, there are contradicting reports.
Fox Sports' Craig Carton dropped this note earlier this month (h/t Brandon Contes of Awful Announcing).
"It was a problem that would splinter any group of men," Carton said. "It is a real significant problem and it cannot be fixed. I will tell you that. I'm not going to tell you anymore than that, but I know what the problem was. I know they're trying to fix it, and I don't think it can be fixed."
ESPN's Adam Schefter wasn't a fan of that take.
97.5 The Fanatic @975TheFanaticEarlier today, <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AdamSchefter</a> joined <a href="https://twitter.com/975JKShow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@975JKShow</a> and had a lot to say about a certain "rumor" that was put out yesterday regarding the Eagles' locker room.<br><br>"I texted someone in the organization yesterday, and the text I got back was, 'None of that 'S' happened."<br><br>Listen here! <a href="https://t.co/59UWShPzVD">pic.twitter.com/59UWShPzVD</a>
Derrick Gunn of JAKIB Sports also provided these items:
Derrick Gunn @RealDGunnAccording to sources: Jalen big contract-pulled in numerous directions on/off field put him under a lot of pressure he didn't handle well ..<br>Big Dom suspended-controls Sirianni emotions on sideline ,in his absence Nick gets in numerous arguments with players/coaches during games
Regardless of what did or didn't happen, the Eagles must turn the page to 2024 now and put the bitter disappointment of last season behind them. The talent is there for them to compete for a Super Bowl again. It's just a matter of whether this team can coalesce and regain its dominant 2022 form.