After months of speculation, A.J. Brown is finally a New England Patriot -- and Mike Vrabel appears happy.
Brown and Vrabel worked together previously with the Tennessee Titans during the receiver's first three seasons in the NFL. When Brown's relationship with the Philadelphia Eagles broke down, Vrabel and the Patriots swooped in to consummate a trade on Monday. The Patriots sent a 2027 fifth-round draft pick and a 2028 first-rounder to Philadelphia for Brown.
Vrabel's familiarity with Brown helped but that this was about improving the roster of last year's Super Bowl runners-up.
"Just trying to improve our football team in every possible way. Give our offense multiple weapons to build on what we did last year," Vrabel told reporters on Tuesday. "I think having experience with the person, to be able to add an accomplished NFL football player, receiver, premium player at his position, but somebody that we also feel strongly about as a person and a competitor and as a teammate."
Vrabel noted Brown's physical traits, as well as his passion for the game as strong positives.
"I think he loves football," Vrabel said. "I think that he has a physical skill set. He's got great body control. I think he's strong at the catch point. But I also think as he's grown as a player and as a receiver, just the nuances of releases versus press or playing versus. bracketed coverages or zone coverages. Plays physically with the football and has been a productive and consistent player."
The 6-foot-1, 233-pound Brown, who turns 29 at the end of June, caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards (12.9-yard average) and seven touchdowns last season. It was Brown's fourth straight 1,000-yard season and the sixth of his career, but he averaged nearly 20 fewer receiving yards per game last season than he had over his previous three years in Philadelphia. The Eagles moved on from Brown after a litany of off-the-field drama and rumored disconnect with star quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Vrabel was asked Tuesday about Brown's apparent friction in Philadelphia prior to his exit and didn't attempt to downplay the WR's competitiveness.
"Whatever happens or comes up, I can't say there's not going to be things that come up with A.J., with any single player," Vrabel said. "This is a competitive game. Highly competitive. Players want to win. Players want to do everything they can to help their team. They want to make sure that people are on the right page. I don't get into a lot of that. I think that's what's most important is that those things don't carry into the locker room.
"I don't know what happened (in Philadelphia). I'm not trying to find out what happened in Philadelphia. I'm trying to focus on what's going to happen here, and try to get him acclimated to what we do and how we do it."
Brown after Monday's trade and credited Vrabel's tough-love approach with him as a rookie in 2019 for some of his early success.
"When I first got to Tennessee he was extremely tough on me, and I didn't really understand what he was trying to do," Brown said. "Obviously he was trying to push me to become the player I am today, but he was just so tough. I remember a conversation, I was talking to him, (saying) like, 'You don't have to humble me. I came from humble beginnings.'
"I just never understood. He stayed on me all the time."
It took time, but Brown came to understand Vrabel's mission: to get the very best out of him.
"He was holding me accountable," Brown said, "and we grew close over the years."
Now that relationship will be close again, with Brown joining the Patriots for his second run with Vrabel.
