Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni has come to the defense of wide receiver A.J. Brown after his sideline activities during a recent game sparked conversation. During the Eagles' wild-card playoff victory over the Green Bay Packers, Brown was seen reading a book titled "Inner Excellence" by Jim Murphy while seated on the bench. The incident led to a flurry of speculation and criticism, with some labeling Brown's behavior as "lazy."
Sirianni, however, disagreed with the negative assessments. He spoke out in support of Brown during a radio appearance on 94.1 WIP, clarifying that there was nothing wrong with the athlete reading during the game. The coach emphasized Brown's actions as a personal strategy for relaxation and mental focus.
"Everyone needs to figure out why he's doing it before they jump to judgment on the man."
— Nick Sirianni
Brown himself addressed the situation, explaining that he carries the book to every game because its passages provide him with peace. Despite having only one catch on three targets during the game, Brown insisted that reading was not an act of frustration but rather a means to refocus amidst the intense environment of a playoff match.
"I use it to refocus and lock in despite what may transpire in the game good or bad,"
— A.J. Brown
The attention on Brown's reading habit extended beyond the football field, catapulting "Inner Excellence" to the top of Amazon's trending list. Previously ranked at 523,497th, the book quickly became a bestseller following the incident. Sirianni praised Brown not only for his performance but also for his approach to mental preparation, describing him as the "best receiver" Philadelphia has ever seen.
"It's hard for me to watch when people are getting on him without doing the proper research of who the man is and what he's doing in the first place."
— Nick Sirianni
The episode has sparked broader discussions about mental preparation and self-care in sports, with Sirianni encouraging his players to find personal strategies for relaxation and focus. He highlighted that such practices are beneficial as long as they do not interfere with on-field performance.
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