The Philadelphia Eagles have done nothing but win over the past few years, capping that off with a Super Bowl last year. However, whenever a team is in Philadelphia, it expects to win every single year. It's the harsh reality of playing in such a massive market, but something that comes back to benefit the players more often than not.
With the drama surrounding star wide receiver A.J. Brown, this is the perfect opportunity for the veterans in the Eagles locker room to show they're much more than just very good football players. Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts are two level-headed guys who only want to win. Whether that means worse stats, doing whatever it takes to win, or anything else, they're a bit different than Brown.
Step one was already complete, with reports indicating that the three had a meeting earlier in the week. Brown, who has been frustrated with his role at times, has to look at this as a way to improve.
"I felt like that conversation was meant to stay between us, but the focus was all about the team, and I think it was a good thing," Barkley told reporters, per ESPN. "I would definitely say it wasn't like a players' meeting.
"When you hear 'players' meeting,' that's like all hell's breaking loose. It wasn't that at all. But also that we're teammates, we're all friends, we're just having a conversation."
In Brown's defense, I don't think anybody can say that he shouldn't be upset about not getting the football.
He's one of the best wide receivers in the NFL and deserves to have passes thrown to him. However, when the Eagles are winning as much as they have, they have to focus on getting everybody the football and doing what they've done for much of the past few years.
If Brown doesn't like that, players like Barkley and Hurts either need to get him on board, or the Eagles might have to decide to ship him off for a player who can do what's needed.