It was nothing. Really, it wasn't.
Basically, that's what Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said to reporters in his state of the team address at the owners' meetings in Phoenix when asked about his conversation on the practice field last season with receiver A.J. Brown. According to reports, the meeting took place in early November and lasted about 10 minutes, during which time the two discussed Brown's frustration with the offense.
Sal Paolantonio says A.J. Brown and Eagles owner had a meeting at practice on Thursday 🎥 pic.twitter.com/BChbMZ1xZV
Tuesday, Lurie alluded to being an owner that has relationships with all the players, which includes many conversations, dinners and other gatherings. Lurie said those conversations rarely have anything to do with what is relevant at the time, sort of hinting that his conversation with Brown didn't have to do with the receivers' apparent displeasure with the team.
It was just one of many topics the upbeat Lurie spoke on, including that due to the work that he and so many have done for the Eagles Autism Foundation, Philadelphia will soon be the epicenter for autism research.
Lurie was extremely positive about his team, reminding all that quarterback Jalen Hurts "was the MVP of the Super Bowl and should have been the MVP of the Super Bowl before that." He also professed his love for Hurts and added that he was "exceptional and so dedicated. I spend a lot of time with him and he is so dedicated to the game." While confusing a question about Jalen Carter and Jalen Hurts, Lurie did let it be known that he will not talk publicly about contracts or contract extensions.Â
The biggest non-player news concerning the Eagles this offseason has been about the addition and subtraction of coordinators. Gone are offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and offensive line guru Jeff Stoutland, among others. In are Sean Mannion for Patullo and Chris Kuper for Stoutland. There is a new passing game coordinator in Josh Grizzard, a quarterbacks coach in Parks Frazier, among others.
"I'm excited about our offensive staff," Lurie said. "Kudos to Nick (Sirianni) to recognize what was clearly needed for our offensive effectiveness. It's never about one coach. Nick wants the best. I like to think we have a history of finding young gems on offense and defense. Incredibly excited with the staff Nick and Sean put together. Time is a value and an asset. A short interview process is not what I ever want. We are a franchise and a culture that the NFL and players love."
He further went on about Sirianni, who will be entering his sixth season as the Eagles coach.
"His performance has been nothing short of outstanding. Two Super Bowls in last three years, one of which we won, one of which was taken away from us. Incredible leadership. Authenticity is huge in my world and in the players' world. It's about authenticity, leadership, understanding when you should delegate, when you shouldn't delegate and how to lead the team through ups and downs. The guy's done a great job."
The subject of the future of where the team will be playing once their lease is up at Lincoln Financial Field in 2032 was also addressed.
"It's a long process," he said of future plans for the team's home. "When we researched for Lincoln Financial Field, it took two to three years. Now, our exploratory research is very much on looking at stadiums around the world and domestically. Is there anything we can learn from Buffalo and Nashville? We want to maximize fan amenities and attract the best possible environment for Philadelphia. You've really got to do the exploratory research. This is a big decision. We will take it slow and understand the design and everything."Â
In one message that Eagles fans will certainly cherish, Lurie said: "We hold ourselves to the highest expectations. We are gung ho. I think we've got outstanding executives in our organization. Probably the best general manager in Howie Roseman, an outstanding president in Don Smolenski, everyone around. Outstanding head coach. All facets. We demand it. We want to be the best and that's our goal."
