{"id":767196,"date":"2026-02-21T17:47:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T17:47:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/767196\/"},"modified":"2026-02-21T17:47:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T17:47:20","slug":"eagles-news-saquon-barkley-downplays-a-j-browns-trolling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/767196\/","title":{"rendered":"Eagles News: Saquon Barkley downplays A.J. Brown\u2019s \u201ctrolling\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

How did you feel about A.J. Brown\u2019s \u201ctrolling\u201d on the podcast with two former Patriots players? Head over to The Feed<\/a> and weigh in with your answer and explanation!<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links \u2026<\/p>\n

What Saquon Barkley thinks of AJ Brown\u2019s wink hinting at Patriots move – Yahoo! Sports<\/a>
The viral moment occurred during a podcast appearance where Brown responded with a wink after hosts suggested he could join the Patriots. Social media users quickly connected the gesture to ongoing speculation linking him to New England, especially given his previous working relationship with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel during their time together in Tennessee. Barkley, however, downplayed the seriousness of the gesture, saying, \u201cThat wink is just all fun and games, but I will give the inside scoop: AJ Brown is a big Patriots fan. No [Eagles fans shouldn\u2019t panic], I don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n

A.J. Brown trade rumors: Should Patriots pursue Eagles wide receiver? – Pats Pulpit<\/a>
A.J. Brown to the Patriots is an interesting thought experiment because of the potential implications a trade would have on a team that made it all the way to the Super Bowl in 2025. Because, make no mistake, he would be the team\u2019s No. 1 wide receiver if brought aboard and instantly become its most dangerous downfield weapon. However, he also would not come cheap and likely disqualify the Patriots from pursuing other candidates such as the potential first-round rookies mentioned above or another popular trade target, Raiders edge Maxx Crosby. That trade-off might be worth it, but there are no right or wrong answers until the Patriots\u2019 actual performance on the field in 2026 with or without any of those players mentioned. As for Brown himself, he likely would welcome a change of scenery and getting traded to New England. Whether the Eagles see it the same way remains to be seen and could be the ultimate hold-up. From a Patriots perspective, though, one thing is true either way: a talent such as Brown would add more quality to an offense still in need of it despite some promising signs in 2025.<\/p>\n

Eagles\u2019 A.J. Brown Trolls Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman on Video Over Patriots Trade Rumors – B\/R<\/a>
During an appearance on the Dudes on Dudes podcast (38:20 mark) alongside Patriots legends Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman, A.J. Brown winked when Edelman declared, \u201cWe\u2019re all Patriots.\u201d The room erupted with laughter, and Brown ultimately made it clear that he was \u201ctrolling.\u201d But there could be some truth behind Brown\u2019s subtle response.<\/p>\n

A.J. Brown used to \u2018hate\u2019 Mike Vrabel during time together in Tennessee – NFL.com<\/a>
\u201cVrabe is the type of coach that he\u2019s going to call on you in the meetings,\u201d Brown said. \u201cHe wants to make sure you\u2019re staying engaged and he\u2019s going to go over the keys to victory of the week. You better know them by the back of your hand. I used to write in my notebook because at the time, I really didn\u2019t like Vrabes. I didn\u2019t like him, and I admit that he knows that. So, I used to write, \u2018I hate Vrabes, I hate Vrabes, I hate Vrabes.\u2019 I was doing that to pretend like I was taking notes to look like I was engaged. But because he was so hard on me when I was a rookie and I really didn\u2019t understand it. So, at the time I told Vrabes like, \u2018Hey, like I\u2019m humble already. You don\u2019t got to humble me.\u2019 But I really didn\u2019t understand what he was trying to, you know, push me to be.<\/p>\n

Looking at the Costs of Cutting or Trading Eagles WR AJ Brown – Over The Cap<\/a>
Can the Eagles Trade Brown? Trading Brown would be a viable option for the Eagles if they could find a trade partner. The Eagles structure all of their contracts these days with \u201cbuilt in\u201d contract restructures and Brown\u2019s is no different. What the team does is include an option bonus that covers all of the salary for a player in a year except for the minimum that is mandated by the CBA along with any other minor bonuses in the contract. This effectively accomplishes the same thing a restructure does by converting salary to bonus except it maintains a trade window for the Eagles. This is why Brown\u2019s salary cap charge for 2026 is $23.393 million rather than $45.35 million. The Eagles make the dates to exercise these options very late in the preseason, basically right before the first regular season game, thus giving them all summer to trade the player and not pay the salary required to lower the salary cap charge. In a normal restructure the Eagles would be on the hook for all but his $1.3 million base salary in a trade since the restructure bonus would have been committed by the Eagles.<\/p>\n

Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni will speak at the NFL Combine on Tuesday – BGN<\/a>
For the first time since their post-mortem press conference following the Philadelphia Eagles\u2019 season-ending loss to the San Francisco 49ers back in January, we\u2019ll hear from Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni this week.<\/p>\n

Some under-the-radar free agents the Eagles should keep – PhillyVoice<\/a>
G\/C Brett Toth. Yes, you\u2019re reading this correctly. Toth has been a punching bag for fans because his crime is that he\u2019s not nearly as good as four other Pro Bowler or All Pros on the starting offensive line, or even starting RG Tyler Steen. But Toth showed in his second start last season \u2013 first at center \u2013 in a win against the Giants that he can be a serviceable backup when used properly. The new offense should emphasize outside zone and more horizontal movement along with screens, both of which cater to Toth\u2019s athleticism and quickness. The asks of Toth to single block \u2013 or even double team \u2013 on mammoth iDLs at the point of attack on inside runs didn\u2019t play to his strengths. [\u2026] Interestingly, Toth was seen as a teacher\u2019s pet for former OL coach Jeff Stoutland, but Toth could theoretically be a better fit for Sean Mannion\u2019s scheme than Stoutland\u2019s inside zone-heavy playbook. There won\u2019t be a big market for Toth. There could be none at all. Given the injury issues the Eagles have up front, they\u2019d be wise to at least give Toth another chance to win a backup job.<\/p>\n

Christian Parker introduction was early insight into where Cowboys will be focusing defensive rebuild – Blogging The Boys<\/a>
Wednesday\u2019s introduction for Parker was a good step here, as he and Schottenheimer came off as being on the same page for how they build a winning infrastructure around their respective sides of the ball. Where Schottenheimer will have the benefit of continuity from the majority of coaches he\u2019s trusted to run their own position rooms along with a core of steady playmakers on offense, Parker faces the challenge of being a first-time coordinator in charge of both players and a slew of new coaches for the first time. All for a defense that still desperately needs more of these cornerstone playmakers to build around. The Cowboys defense has needs everywhere, and anybody that watched either one game or all of this team\u2019s games in 2025 with Matt Eberflus\u2019 defense already knows this well. So far in this offseason process, Cowboys fans have been quite split on where the ideal starting point is to improve the personnel for Parker\u2019s defense – particularly in regards to Dallas holding two first-round picks in April\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n

Cowboys waive LB Logan Wilson, save $6.5M in salary cap space – ESPN<\/a>
The Cowboys gave up a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for Wilson. In Cincinnati, where he was voted a captain in 2025, Wilson was benched in favor of rookie Barrett Carter and led to the trade.<\/p>\n

Three free agent wide receivers the Washington Commanders could target in 2026 – Hogs Haven<\/a>
Romeo Doubs, 25, Packers. Doubs is another wide receiver coming off a career year. In 2025, with Jayden Reed and Christian Watson on the shelf, Doubs established himself as one of Jordan Love\u2019s preferred targets with 55 receptions for 724 yards and 6 touchdowns, averaging 13.2 yards per catch over 16 games. Romeo has generally improved as a receiver each season and hit career highs in 2025 for yards per route run (73rd percentile) and yards per reception (65th percentile). Doubs possesses good size and speed, and while he was very raw as a rookie, he has become a polished route runner that can win on all three levels. Along with his strengths, Doubs has a few weaknesses. At times, he vanishes from games and has also struggled with the drops during his career. Romeo ranks in the 32nd percentile in drop rate when compared to the rest of the league. He also has a somewhat extensive injury history including two concussions in 2024. Doubs\u2019 other weakness comes with the ball in his hands as he is not a playmaker after the catch, ranking in the lower third in yards after catch per reception. Still, Romeo can be clutch when needed, especially in short areas of the field. He is now up to 23 career touchdowns, ranking in the 71st percentile for touchdowns per target.<\/p>\n

New York Giants mailbag: John Harbaugh, retirement plans, Carnell Tate, more – Big Blue View<\/a>
Steve, there might be a \u201chit piece\u201d element to some of what has been written. There is, though, truth in the idea that Joe Schoen has lost power since the hiring of John Harbaugh. Before Harbaugh was hired, Schoen was at the top of the organizational chart directly under ownership when it came to football decisions. He had final say. That is clearly no longer the case. The most powerful man in the Giants\u2019 organization now outside of ownership is John Harbaugh. If Harbaugh wants to draft Caleb Downs and Schoen doesn\u2019t, the Giants will draft Downs. If Harbaugh wants Tyler Linderbaum in free agency and Schoen doesn\u2019t, the Giants will try to sign Linderbaum. Harbaugh will be the final arbiter on who makes the 53-man roster. If there are people Harbaugh wants removed from the organization, they are going to get removed. It is his show. Dawn Aponte has basically the same title that Kevin Abrams had, and the same list of responsibilities. Clearly, though, the fact that she reports to Harbaugh and not to the GM adds weight to that role and takes power away from the GM. They can make cap and contract decisions without Schoen\u2019s input. It is pretty clear that Harbaugh wanted his own person in the front office to handle contracts and manage the salary cap. Aponte will do that, meaning Schoen no longer has authority over those things. Aponte will also likely be Harbaugh\u2019s front office eyes and ears. Schoen is no longer driving the bus.<\/p>\n

The Bears moving to Indiana would be a soulless betrayal of a city that loves them – SB Nation<\/a>
A few months before I was born, the Chicago Bears won the Super Bowl. In doing so, they put a cherry atop their most exciting, storied season ever. It was such a big deal that in my toddler years, a Richard Dent action figure was just one piece of the ubiquitous \u201886 Bears mythology in my household\u2014a totem object for the beginning of my life\u2014and one of my very first news memories is of what the Chicago Tribune looked like on the day, years later, that head coach Mike Ditka was fired. Millions of Chicagolanders my age can tell similar stories; those of living through a fandom most defined by stuff that happened before you were alive, occasionally punctuated by haphazardly successful Bears teams that usually relied on turnover creation for average offensive production. We got a Super Bowl run in 2007, and while that was fun, it was exactly this kind of ramshackle, wild-card outfit that took us there.<\/p>\n

Social Media Information:<\/p>\n

BGN Facebook Page: Click here to like our page<\/a><\/p>\n

BGN Twitter: Follow @BleedingGreen<\/a><\/p>\n

BGN BlueSky: Follow @bleedgreennation.bsky.social<\/a><\/p>\n

BGN Instagram: Follow @BleedingGreenInsta<\/a><\/p>\n

BGN Manager: Follow Brandon Lee Gowton on Twitter<\/a> | BlueSky<\/a> | Threads<\/a><\/p>\n

BGN Radio Twitter: Follow @BGN_Radio<\/a><\/p>\n