This isn't one of those times where you can skim through and try to find a few highlights. Think of this one like food for thought, wisdom attained from years spent discussing the Philadelphia Eagles.
Time and dues paid will leave you with trade secrets, behind-the-scenes access, if you will. One need only pay attention, and you'll begin gathering nuggets that are better than the money some would pay to learn them.
Here's one such rule. It isn't posted on bulletin boards. It isn't written anywhere. It's just one of those lessons that make sense the first time you hear it.
You can learn a lot about someone's respect or lack thereof by listening to the people who know them better. Forget fans and guys on the radio. Listen to the teammates who played with guys and the coaches whose job it was to develop them.
That said, think about an oft-criticized talent like A.J. Brown. Once you have that visual, ask yourselves a few questions.
Who calls him selfish? Is it teammates or fans? Is it the coaches or the media? Now, forget what the fans say. What do A.J. Brown's teammates and coaches, past and present, say about him?
Jason Kelce gives the most honest and measured critique of A.J. Brown we've heard in a while.
Here's another way to say this. The next time you hear or see a player criticized, pay attention. Do his teammates come to his defense? Do coaches back him, or do you hear silence? That tells you everything about how respected they are. You don't need another podcast or a tweet from the national media.
Fans call A.J. Brown selfish. Nick Sirianni defends him. Derrick Henry wants to reunite with him, and the Baltimore Ravens star didn't say that once. He said it twice
Take from this what you will, but recently, The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that A.J. Brown's "relationship with the team remains somewhat tenuous" and that "substantial conversations about his future have not yet taken place." ESPN's Jeremy Fowler shared another theory. He adds that Philadelphia will, at minimum, explore trade options for A.J. Brown. For context, here's a look at his report.
.@JFowlerESPN says that many high-level executives expect the Eagles to entertain trade offers for A.J. Brown.
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 12, 2026
Where could you see him landing? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/go1BN5Bq9U
Again, we absolutely believe the Eagles will, at minimum, explore trade options for A.J. Brown, but is his relationship that tenuous? As recently as the Super Bowl, he said he was still optimistic about a bright future for the Eagles.
So, do we believe what Fowler and Russini say about Brown, or do we listen to what Brown says about himself? How about we refer to the previous rule? Let's pick the brain of someone who already knows him. 94 WIP-FM did the work for us.
During a recent visit to 94 WIP-FM's Morning Show, Jason Kelce gave the most honest and measured critique of A.J. Brown we have heard in a while.
"He's just unfortunately a player who allows his internal frustrations to manifest into his play, and it makes him play worse, it makes the offense worse, and it makes his energy worse. And some guys can block that out and just play football. He is clearly not one of those guys... The reality is, most of the words that come out of the building, from players, from coaches, from everybody, (are that they) love A.J. Brown, and I feel like, you can tell a lot of times when guys are just feeding you bull crap. There is a genuine appreciation for A.J."
A take that is balanced, measured, and honest. What else would we expect from Jason Kelce? Again, to gauge temperature, listen to guys who know the player. If Jason Kelce says there's no love lost between Brown and his teammates, maybe that's what we ought to listen to.
Rumors travel fast. Respect travels just as quickly, but differently. The latter shows up in locker rooms. It shows up in who vouches for you when times tighten. Again, pay attention to who goes out of their way to praise someone. Watch who changes the subject.
If Kelce says there's an appreciation for Brown at the NovaCare Complex, that carries more weight than a hundred speculative segments. Kelce doesn't sugarcoat. He shared the flaws, their impact, and the truth about how the room feels. That isn't a spin. That's the definition of perspective.
We can't say it enough. Philadelphia may explore options. Smart front offices explore everything, but if the Eagles move off of Brown, it probably won't be because he's selfish.
We all understand there are financial ramifications stemming from keeping him and moving on. That seems to be where trade talks stem from, not from damaged relationships with the coaches who scheme for him and the teammates who have nothing to gain by lying.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Jason Kelce offers a measured critique of A.J. Brown