FOXBOROUGH – To say there was a game day-like buzz in Foxborough on Tuesday would be a massive understatement.
What was originally just a typical OTA practice open to the media quickly turned into a frenzy with the AJ Brown trade happening on Monday and his subsequent arrival on Tuesday.
Here’s a step-by-step account of how the first day as a Patriot went for the team’s newest WR1:
-At about 12:10, Brown made his way from the new New Balance Athletics Center across the lower practice field, up the hill towards the main practice field where a throng of cameras and reporters were waiting for him to get that first shot. He graciously smiled and jogged over to start getting loose.
-Moments later during stretching, Brown actually told the media in a press conference after practice that a few teammates and coaches told him to go be a ‘line leader,’ but he politely declined saying he hadn’t earned that yet.
-It was pretty apparent that he was legitimately learning everyone and just where to go during some of the early drills. Vrabel jogged over with him at 12:25 to the very first one before giving some instructions to him and other receivers.
-The size, footwork and fluidity as a true No. 1 receiver is so evident. Just going through a few medicine ball drills, some light jog catching drills and some other stuff, that aura is certainly there.
-During actual team periods that began at around 12:40, Brown only took part in a handful of ‘live’ reps, clearly being eased into everything, which is completely understandable. Before practice, Josh McDaniels even said he had just met Brown this morning, so he’ll obviously be more involved with things as he gets more comfortable.
-When Brown did take live reps, he was only outside, which we all expect to be the case. Mike Vrabel did say beforehand that he and all the receivers will learn all the positions, but for now to make things easy Brown will focus on being the X.
-In his post-practice press conference that began at 2:14, Brown admitted he caught himself not paying attention for a brief moment simply because he was in awe of being a Patriot. “Damn, I’m a Patriot,” Brown explained was the thought as he day-dreamed.
-Brown also talked about his fandom growing up, saying it was his big cousin who was a diehard Pats fan, and he wanted to be like him.
-Asked about the issues he had in Philadelphia, Brown simply said “None of it matters…I’m here now.”
-Much like when Stefon Diggs arrived last spring, I thought there was a clear giddy up in the step of all of the other receivers with a true No. 1 present in the group. Efton Chism, Pop Douglas and Kyle Williams all noticeably had a little more pep in their step and I don’t recall a ball hitting the ground in any indy drill. Chism had a very good day in team periods.
The Patriots will have three days of mandatory minicamp next week where the whole team is required to be there. It’ll be fascinating to see how much Brown is able to pick up over the next week and how involved he is in those three practices before the team has about a month off prior to training camp.
Those ramps at Gillette are going to be packed to the brim this summer as AJ Brown has already brought a buzz back that hasn’t been here since the TB12 days.
