New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel did not ease rookie wide receiver A.J. Brown into training camp, calling him out during a team meeting after a dropped pass on the first day. Brown, acquired by the Patriots in June, described the experience as reminiscent of his rookie season with the Titans.
During an 11-on-11 drill, quarterback Drake Maye threw a pass to Brown, who attempted a one-handed catch and dropped it. Vrabel's critique came swiftly, signaling that Brown would not receive special treatment. "First team meeting, he had ripped me for almost bringing in a catch, and he expected me to make that play," Brown told reporters. "Early on, as a rookie, I didn’t really like that too much, but now I know it comes from a great place and he expects me to make that play, and so do I."
Brown acknowledged that Vrabel prioritizes fundamental plays over flashy ones, stating the coach would rather see consistent receptions than acrobatic attempts. "He doesn’t care about style points," Brown said of Vrabel. "He would rather see Brown haul in a few easy catches than try and get the crowd going with a one-hander."
Despite the early criticism, Maye has consistently targeted Brown during full-team drills, and the receiver has been working with the first team. Brown expressed optimism that his connection with Maye will improve as they develop chemistry and communication.
"Just being on the same page. Communication," Brown said. "It may be an angle here. I may need to go higher or something small like that. The details are very small in this league, and you got to execute it. And so, as of yesterday, something so small and maybe the angle (leads to) tips and overthrows."
The Patriots acquired Brown from the Eagles for a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick. He aims to meet the expectations that accompanied his arrival in New England.