A.J. Brown, wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, found an unconventional way to maintain focus during their recent wild-card-round victory against the Green Bay Packers. Spotted reading “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy on the sidelines, Brown captivated onlookers with his unique approach to staying mentally sharp. The Eagles emerged victorious with a 22-10 win, yet the game was not without its challenges, particularly in the passing game.
"Inner Excellence," a book designed to "train your mind for extraordinary performance and the best possible life," became a part of Brown's game-day ritual. Although he consistently brings the book to games, this marked the first time cameras captured him reading it during an NFL match. Brown explained,
"I use it to refocus and lock in despite what may transpire in the game good or bad," – A.J. Brown
Injuries plagued the Eagles leading up to their clash with the Packers. A.J. Brown himself was limited in practice due to a knee issue, missing Thursday's session entirely. Despite entering the game "banged up," Brown remained optimistic about his recovery, stating,
"I definitely feel like I'm turning the corner. I came out of the game healthy." – A.J. Brown
Quarterback Jalen Hurts returned to action after missing two games due to a concussion, while fellow wide receiver DeVonta Smith dealt with back tightness throughout the week. The Eagles' passing game struggled to find rhythm, with Hurts going 90 minutes between completed passes. Brown managed just one catch for 10 yards on three targets.
Jalen Hurts expressed surprise at Brown's new ritual on the sidelines, remarking,
"I've never seen him read [on the sideline]; I've seen the book in his hands." – Jalen Hurts
Hurts acknowledged the importance of individual focus techniques, adding,
"Everybody has a different thing and finds their flow in different ways. That's how he chooses to do it." – Jalen Hurts
The sideline reading moment sparked discussions among fans and analysts, but Brown dismissed any potential controversy, asserting,
"People tend to create controversy when they don't know the truth." – A.J. Brown
Leave a Reply