The Philadelphia Eagles are flying high at 4-0, yet it seems not everyone is enjoying the ride. Star Wide Receiver A.J. Brown, a man usually known for letting his explosive plays do the talking, has taken to social media with a message that’s about as subtle as a blindside block. Following a quiet performance in the Eagles’ 31-25 victory over the previously unbeaten Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brown dropped a cryptic bombshell on X (formerly Twitter) that has the Philly faithful buzzing with concern.
Now, maybe Brown is just deep in his Sunday scripture study. Or, and this feels a little more likely, maybe one of the league’s most dominant receivers is feeling a bit left out of the offensive game plan. This isn’t just some random social media musing. We’ve seen this movie before with top-tier receivers. When the rock doesn’t come their way, their thumbs start doing the work.
A Quiet Day for a Loud Talent: A.J. Brown’s Disappearing Act
Let’s look at the tape—or in this case, the stat sheet. Against the Bucs, Brown was targeted a team-high nine times but came away with a measly two catches for seven yards. Seven! That’s a number you’d expect from a third-string tight end, not a guy who is supposed to be the engine of your passing attack. This isn’t a one-off, either. It was his third game this season with fewer than 30 receiving yards.
This performance is a stark contrast to his Week 3 explosion against the Rams, where he hauled in six catches for 109 yards and a touchdown after reportedly voicing a desire for more aggression in the play-calling. It seemed like the squeaky wheel got the grease. But against Tampa Bay, that wheel went silent again, especially in a second half where the Eagles’ passing game nearly vanished.
Reading Between the Tweets: What’s Really Going On With Brown?
So, what’s the deal? Is Brown genuinely unhappy? The phrase “not listened to” in his post is doing some heavy lifting here. It hints at a disconnect between what he feels is needed and what the coaching staff is dialing up. While the Eagles are piling up wins, the offense has looked clunky at times, relying heavily on the ground game and Jalen Hurts’ legs.
For a player of Brown’s caliber, being a decoy while the team grinds out wins might not be enough. He’s a top-five receiver in this league, a game-breaker who expects to be treated—and targeted—like one. Fans on social media are already divided, with some telling him to quit complaining while the team is undefeated, and others sympathizing with his frustration.
Is this the beginning of a real problem in the Eagles’ locker room, or just a momentary flare-up from a passionate competitor? We all know Brown doesn’t just post for the fun of it. When he speaks, or tweets, it usually means something. The question now is whether the Eagles are listening. Because if they’re not, his next move might be to “quietly withdraw,” and there would be nothing quiet about the fallout from that.
Has Mazi Smith Done Enough To Survive Cowboys Roster Cuts?
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith divides opinion nearly as much as quarterback Dak Prescott, with the former first-round pick yet to truly announce himself to the league.
Entering Year 3, the fact that Smith, as a first-round pick, has played in all three preseason games tells you all you need to now about his position, and against the Atlanta Falcons in the 31-13 win at AT&T Stadium, Mazi again, showed flashes with a sack and a couple of nice rushes.
But head coach Brian Schottenheimer was a little guarded when asked about Mazi post-game.
“I think Mazi played better,” Schottenheimer said. “Mazi is the first one, he talked a couple weeks ago about the consistency and wanting to be more consistent, he’s a guy that flashes at times, and does some really good things. I thought he had a couple really good rushes from the inside, two technique spot.
“We’ve got a very competitive roster. We’ve got a very competitive D-line group. So, it’s why we got to go watch this film. I’m not being committal really on anybody, it’s not just Mazi. We got a couple days to figure this out, but I thought there was some flashes. Him playing in a third preseason game shows that we wanted to see some things, and he was very comfortable with that, which is great.”
Now, do we think the Cowboys are going to put Mazi in the roster cull basket? We don’t, but others on social media have seen enough and want the franchise to cut ties with the former Michigan Wolverine.
Granted, defensive tackle is a hard position to stand out in, but Mazi hasn’t really helped the Cowboys defense against the run, which was one of the main reasons he was drafted.
Now, after three preseason games in Year 3, Mazi still hasn’t fully convinced the coaching staff.
Which tells its own story.
