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Philadelphia Eagles veteran defensive end Brandon Graham admitted he went too far with his comments about teammates Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown during a Monday night radio appearance. Graham, speaking on 94 WIP, addressed Brown’s recent frustrations with the team’s passing game and suggested a rift had developed between the quarterback and wide receiver.
“The person that’s complaining needs to be accountable,” Graham said. “I don’t know the whole story, but I know that [Hurts] is trying and [Brown] could be a little better with how he responds to things. They were friends before this, but things have changed, and I understand that because life happens. But it’s the business side, that we have to make sure the personal doesn’t get in the way of the business.”
Graham Walks Back Comments
On Tuesday, Graham expressed regret to ESPN, admitting he made assumptions that painted the situation in the wrong light.
“I made a mistake and I assumed that it was something that it wasn’t,” Graham said. “I just want to win so bad that I don’t just want to use the media when we need to talk about something and we can fix the problem ourselves. Didn’t add to it in a good light, so that’s my bad.
“I just assumed, and it made me out to look even worse because I had it all wrong and now people are going to run with that part. I really just want to win, man, and I want brothers to be able to just hash it out.”
Graham stressed that his comments were not meant to create division within the team but to emphasize the importance of addressing issues privately.
Eagles’ Offense Faces Questions
The Eagles, now 11-2 after a narrow 22-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers, clinched a playoff spot but continue to face scrutiny over their passing game. Hurts completed just 14 of 21 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns in the win, with Brown not seeing his first target until late in the second quarter.
Brown, visibly frustrated on the sideline after a three-and-out, said postgame that the offense’s passing struggles make it difficult for him to get into a rhythm.
Fellow receiver DeVonta Smith echoed the sentiment, saying, “Thinking the same. Seeing the right signals,” Smith said, later clarifying that he was talking about the Panthers game specifically. “Just going out there and making it work.”
Hurts added, “I think [the Panthers] did a good job; I think we did a bad job. That starts with me, how I execute. Ultimately, you yearn, and I yearn for better synchronization, for a more complementary style of ball, in a sense.”
Eagles’ Strength in the Run Game
Philadelphia has relied heavily on its dominant ground attack, led by MVP contender Saquon Barkley. The team ranks first in rushing attempts (473) and rushing yards per game (190.5), but this emphasis has left the passing game lagging behind. The Eagles rank last in passing attempts (328), which has limited Brown’s opportunities to make explosive plays.
Despite the challenges, Brown has continued to deliver, surpassing 800 yards and four touchdowns this season, even after missing three games due to a hamstring injury. Since joining the Eagles in 2022, Brown has built a strong rapport with Hurts, a bond that dates back to Hurts’ efforts to recruit Brown to Alabama during high school.
Looking Ahead
Graham hopes to move forward from his comments, emphasizing the need for unity as the Eagles eye another deep playoff run.
I wasn’t trying to be divisive. I just didn’t want us to use the media in a bad way,” Graham said. “And that starts with me too. I can’t do that, either. If I’ve got something, I’ve got to go to the people too, instead of just feeding it like I did.”
The Eagles remain one of the NFL’s top teams, but ensuring harmony between their stars could be crucial for their championship aspirations.
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This report used information from ESPN.
