FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) 鈥� A.J. Brown arrived in New England from Philadelphia saying he was in 鈥渁we鈥� about getting a fresh start as a member of the Patriots.
On Wednesday, surrounded by many of the faces and coaches the wide receiver left behind, Brown said as the Patriots welcomed the Eagles for a joint training camp practice that he continues to leave any raw feelings about how his in the past.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not about no closure or anything, man. It鈥檚 love,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淚 won a Super Bowl ring with them. It鈥檒l always be love, no matter how anyone feels. I love Philly and I will always love Philly. But I鈥檓 here now. This is where my feet are and that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 focused on.鈥�
Because of proximity of the Patriots’ new practice facility, players must run across a smaller practice field to reach a hill that leads to the two main fields. With Philadelphia stretching on the lower field, Brown had to jog through his former teammates before practice began Wednesday.
He kept his helmet on and his head down for most of that short journey, only briefly acknowledging a few assistant coaches as he went past.
But once practice started and he was lined up for an 11-on-11 drill will Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, Brown had no problem ratcheting up the intensity.
On the first play, Brown hand fought with Mitchell before getting separation along the sideline. Quarterback Drake Maye lofted a deep pass to Brown, who got one hand on it before Mitchell was able to knock it away at the last second.
The play, though ultimately incomplete, still drew one of the loudest reactions of the day from the bleachers packed with fans.
It was only time that Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler, and the Eagles鈥� third-year All-Pro cornerback matched up during the session.
鈥淭he first rep, man, Q got away with a little holding,鈥� Brown said with a chuckle. 鈥淚 won and he pulled himself back into the play. I just got to finish the play.鈥�
Mitchell acknowledged the intensity on the play.
鈥淚t was a little more amped up, knowing the battles we had in Philly,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 just a great receiver. He gives you so many battles and tough assignments. … It was really great to just go out there and compete with him again today.鈥�
Brown鈥檚 relationship with the Eagles franchise, and notably QB Jalen Hurts, soured as much as his production last season.
The frustrating year for Brown came to a head during the Eagles鈥� 23-19 wild-card round loss to San Francisco when the receiver and Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni were caught by television cameras bickering on the sideline. The spat caused a security officer to intervene. Brown ripped off his helmet in frustration at one point and yelled in Sirianni鈥檚 direction.
Brown said he had not spoken to Hurts since the trade.
鈥淟isten, honestly guys, none of that stuff even matters,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淵ou know asking the question is going to turn negative. Let鈥檚 not get into that. Let鈥檚 keep everything positive. It鈥檚 love my way and just move forward. That鈥檚 all.鈥�
Asked if he had any messages to fans about what turned out to be one of the final images of Brown in a Philadelphia jersey, Brown said he has left that, too, behind him.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 my message to Eagles fans? I love you and I鈥檓 not looking in the past,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淭hat game, no I didn鈥檛 play my best. But I鈥檓 not going backwards, you know? It doesn鈥檛 exist.”
Hurts said he isn’t harboring any bad feelings about Brown’s departure.
鈥淚 know he’s going out there and competing,鈥� Hurts said. 鈥淚’ve got a lot of love for him, always have.鈥�
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