FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) 鈥� A.J. Brown got his wish for a fresh start when he was to the New England Patriots.
Less than 24 hours later he was on the field, wearing the jersey of the team he grew up rooting for and adding renewed optimism about the future.
鈥淚鈥檓 still in awe. Still trying to adjust,鈥� Brown said after participating in his first offseason workout with New England Tuesday. 鈥淲alking up the hill with the uniform on, I was like, 鈥楳an, this is real. I鈥檓 here.鈥� … There鈥檚 levels to it and I鈥檓 enjoying it.鈥�
Those levels come from a player who acknowledged 鈥渁 tough night鈥� watching the first round of the NFL draft in 2019 when the projected first-rounder wasn鈥檛 selected by New England, passed on by the Patriots who took N’Keal Harry with the No. 32 pick just months after winning their sixth Super Bowl.
鈥淚 was already in my car leaving my draft party, went back to my room and I went in the closet just kind of trying to gather myself because I was just disappointed.,鈥� Brown recalled. 鈥�(New England) was where I wanted to be. Obviously, I wanted to play with Tom (Brady). So, that didn鈥檛 happen. But everything happens for a reason.鈥�
Brown is now clear of what was a in Philadelphia in which he expressed concerns about the direction of the offense.
He declined to discuss what he thinks went wrong at the end of his time with the Eagles.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 done is done. And I鈥檓 here,鈥� Brown said.
He kept things light for his first day, doing a lot of observing while participating in limited 11-on-11 snaps with quarterback Drake Maye and the offense.
It didn鈥檛 dim the excitement for the coaching staff or his new teammates.
鈥淣ot sure if I鈥檝e been around one that looks just like him,鈥� Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. 鈥淢aybe the closest thing I鈥檝e seen is Gronk (Rob Gronkowski). So this is a big guy. He does a lot of things well. And I鈥檓 looking forward to seeing how we can acclimate him and fit him into our system.鈥�
Tackle Will Campbell said Brown is a game-changer.
鈥淗e鈥檚 obviously been able to do some incredible things in this league,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淚t obviously elevates everybody around him.鈥�
The Patriots have been viewed as a likely landing spot for Brown since they released receiver Stefon Diggs in March, taking away Maye鈥檚 top option during last season鈥檚 Super Bowl run.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, now reunited with the player he coached for three seasons in Tennessee, said Brown鈥檚 signing was the culmination of a negotiation with Philadelphia that 鈥渟talled鈥� initially before ultimately reaching the finishing line.
鈥淛ust trying to improve our football team every possible way. Give our offense multiple weapons to build on what we did last year,鈥� Vrabel said.
The expectation is for Brown to play on the outside, though Vrabel said he will learn all receiver positions in the offense.
Brown, who will turn 29 on June 30, was durable during his four seasons in Philadelphia, playing in all 17 regular-season games in 2022 and 2023, dropping to 13 during the Eagles鈥� 2024 Super Bowl title season, and then 15 in 2025.
Asked if there were any concerns about Brown possibly having a degenerative knee issue, Vrabel said managing any ailment would vary from player to player.
鈥淛ust based on looking at his availability in the games that he鈥檚 been able to play in and be there for his team, I think that hopefully leads to future availability,” Vrabel said.
Brown said his knee isn鈥檛 an issue.
鈥淣o injury. Nothing to worry about,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淢aybe in four years I鈥檝e missed one game from a shot to the knee. I鈥檓 good. I鈥檓 ready to go.鈥�
Gonzalez holdout?
The Patriots moved up their mandatory, three-day minicamp to begin June 9. Whether Christian Gonzalez will be there remains an open question.
New England鈥檚 standout cornerback is playing under the rookie contract he signed after being drafted in the first round in 2023. He鈥檒l make $2.8 million this upcoming season. The team also picked up his fifth-year option for the 2027 season, which will pay him just over $18 million.
He鈥檚 now eligible for a long-term extension, which the team has been working on. While that process plays out, Gonzalez has not been present for voluntary offseason workouts.
鈥淚 think that the contract is the business and the professional side of this,鈥� Vrabel said. 鈥淚 want Christian to be ready when he comes back. And I would imagine that he would be here next week.”
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