"I hate it": Eagles legend takes issue with AJ Brown's social media move amid Jalen Hurts drama
A cryptic postgame comment and mounting performance concerns have thrust AJ Brown and Jalen Hurts into the media spotlight.
During Tuesday's appearance on "The Facility," LeSean McCoy, the Philadelphia Eagles legendary running back, dissected the growing controversy. His comments arrived after a lackluster offensive performance against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday where Hurts completed just 14 of 21 passes for 108 yards in a 22-16 win.
"I hate it, though I love AJ, but I, you know why I hate it so much? Because now it looks like I'm taking on the villain role," McCoy said. "I'm the villain. Bring it on. And that's not what it is. I think he is making everybody aware of like, 'Hey, man, we all need to be held accountable. I got to catch the ball right, running back gotta run, defense gotta block, the quarterback you got to pass.'
" ... I dislike what AJ is doing, because now it looks like maybe he might be the victim, and he's not. You know, I wish he just kept it what it is, because everything he said was true."
The drama erupted after AJ Brown's terse postgame comment. When asked about team improvements, he simply said "passing" — a seemingly harmless statement that ignited a media firestorm.
Unraveling the Quarterback's performance struggles amid AJ Brown's social media posts
Statistical analysis reveals the depth of Jalen Hurts' recent offensive challenges. Fran Duffy's breakdown highlights alarming trends in Hurts' play. He has become part of an unwanted quarterback club — only four other QBs have averaged less than 6.0 air yards per attempt while holding the ball for over 3.40 seconds.
The numbers paint a stark picture. Hurts is throwing the ball away, getting sacked or scrambling on 9% of his dropbacks. His performance against the Panthers mirrors some of the worst QB performances in recent NFL history.
John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia offered a more nuanced perspective. Many Eagles players reportedly agree with AJ Brown's assessment.
However, Nick Sirianni sees the situation differently. On 94.1 WIP, he dismissed comparisons to previous team collapses.
"We know there's gonna be noise," Sirianni said on Dec. 3, via SI. "I get to see seven or eight hours every day. ... I see a lot of 2022 vibes."
The Eagles remain formidable. With an 11-2 record and a nine-game winning streak, they've tied their franchise record for consecutive victories. Yet the Hurts-Brown drama threatens to become a significant distraction during a critical playoff push.