Kicking off
The A.J. Brown era has begun.
The trade for Brown was completed on Monday. He arrived via Philadelphia in exchange for a 2028 first round pick, and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
On the surface, it sure looks like the Patriots overpaid for the soon-to-be 29-year old receiver.
If three-time All-Pro player Brown performs at the same level or better than he has in recent years, overpaying shouldn't matter.
It's noteworthy that the Patriots didn't sit on their Super Bowl laurels. They've tried to remedy problem areas. They've tried to outfit Drake Maye with a better offensive line and arsenal.
Players of Brown's caliber don't come cheaply. So they've been willing to spend to make things happen. And that's a good thing.
There are some concerns with Brown's attitude if he's not being fed the ball as much as he'd like.
Vrabel chalked it up to Brown being competitive.
"I think I can't say that there's not going to be things that come up with A.J., with any single player. I think this is a competitive game, highly competitive," Vrabel said Tuesday. "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 think what's most important is that those things don't carry into the locker room, that they get handled."
There are also concerns with a right knee problem with Brown that reportedly is considered degenerative. While Brown dismissed the issue, insisting it won't be a problem, Vrabel pointed to the receiver being available and playing a majority of the games.
"It’s a long season. There will be things that we'll have to deal with, and we'll try to do that accordingly," Vrabel said. "But just based on looking at his availability in the games that he's been able to play in and be there for his team, I think that hopefully leads to future availability."
Brown certainly seems motivated. He's always wanted to be with the Patriots. He could very well be the missing piece that puts them over the top.
Here are some clips from the week:
