Pats Pulpit
After months of speculation, the New England Patriots officially acquired star wide receiver A.J. Brown this past week. Brown arrived to the facility early Tuesday morning where he passed his physical and then practiced with the team.
That has expectedly been the primary focus here on Pats Pulpit the past few days, and there is even more uncovered about the All-Pro. For anything that fell through the cracks, let’s clean out the notebook. Welcome to this week’s A.J. Brown edition of our Sunday Patriots Notes.
Patriots wide receiver coach Todd Downing has known A.J. Brown for a long time.
When Brown was drafted by the Tennessee Titans, Downing was on staff as the team’s tight ends coach before eventually being promoted to offensive coordinator. From his firsthand experience with Brown, he knows exactly how the receiver operates.
“I know his heart. I know his football mind. I know his competitiveness,” Downing said. “I think that helps navigate the difference between demanding and crossing a line. And I’m just fortunate to know the person.”
Brown now joins Downing’s wide receiver room in New England after the team traded a pair of draft picks — including a 2028 first-round pick — to acquire him on Monday. With three All-Pro selections, three Pro Bowl nods, and a Super Bowl ring, Brown instantly becomes the most accomplished receiver in the group.
That status was acknowledged during Brown’s first practice with the team on Tuesday, when coaches and teammates encouraged him to lead the wide receivers through stretching lines and individual drills. Brown, however, chose to take his place at the back of the line.
“I got to earn that,” he said. “It’s a respect thing. I’m like, I got to earn that first, and I want to earn that. I want to earn those guys’ respect.”
It likely won’t take Brown long to earn that role. When he does, Browns hopes to be a valuable veteran presence in the wide receiver room, as Downing noted he soon-to-be 29-year old can have a demanding nature.
But as he showed by taking a backseat during drills, Brown understands that type of leadership comes with time.
“It’s about getting to know them first. And obviously, you can see how far you can push him because, I just want to serve guys and help guys as much as I can, on the field, off the field, whatever I can do,” Brown said.
Based on their history together, Downing has high hopes about adding both the player and the person to his room — part of what made the trade such an easy choice.
“I can’t speak for any of my bosses, but I think part of the reason we feel comfortable about adding him to the mix is because we know what type of person he is,” Downing said. “I am very protective of the wide receiver room because I know how hard those guys work, how much they celebrate each other, they push...
