NEW ORLEANS — If only Mike Vrabel knew what A.J. Brown was actually writing in his notebook.
The newly hired Patriots head coach and the Eagles receiver have a tight bond nowadays, but when Vrabel’s Titans drafted Brown with a second-round pick in 2019, it wasn’t all smooth sailing during team meetings.
“Early on in the league — he doesn’t know this — but I didn’t like him,” Brown said Thursday with a laugh. “I used to take notes and write, ‘I do not like Vrabes. I do not like Vrabes.’ He would make me take notes and do all these things that are uncomfortable as a rookie. As I got older and was learning, he was developing me and getting me ready for moments like these.”
The five-time 1,000-yard receiver will play in Super Bowl 2025 — his second in three years with the Eagles after he was traded reportedly against Vrabel’s wishes.
Vrabel recently spoke glowingly about Brown’s development and added “we’ll see” when asked if the Patriots might try to trade for him.
“He’s an incredible coach and we have an incredible relationship,” Brown said. “I’m happy for him. I’m always wishing him success — that’s with everybody I’m close with.”
As if New Orleans wasn’t already stocked with some of the best restaurants in the world, Rao’s, the New York City Italian institution, opened a pop-up version of the iconic restaurant on 114th Street, for Super Bowl week.
The operation in New Orleans is being run by meatball maven Dino Gatto, the executive chef at Rao’s for the past 29 years.
Gatto and Rao’s, which has outposts in LA and Miami, also do a pop-up version of the restaurant at the Masters.
At the pop-up on St. Peter’s Street on Thursday night was a large table for the Manning family, including Peyton and Eli after it became official the latter wasn’t voted into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
Everything is planned and scheduled to the minute but sometimes things change on the fly.
Two years ago, the Eagles were preparing to face the Chiefs in the Super Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., and head coach Nick Sirianni wrote a speech he intended to relay to the team the night before the game.
Sirianni, at the time finishing up his second season as the head coach, changed his plan.
Instead of giving his speech, he opened the meeting up for anyone who had something to say.
That was a tradition Sirianni experienced when he played for perennial Division III football powerhouse Mount Union and many Eagles players took turns offering their emotional messages in what all involved said was a memorable meeting.
The Eagles ended up losing to the Chiefs, 38-35.
Might Sirianni have another open forum this Saturday night before facing the Chiefs in Super Bowl 2025?
“Yeah, we’ll see how that goes,’’ Sirianni said Thursday during the final media session of the week. “Just what you got to see is just how much the guys cared about each other. The whole conversation was just when guys would get up there just talking about how much they mean to each other, how they’re going to play for each other, all those different things.
“And again, it’s not the best groups of individuals that wins, it’s the best teams. So, it was a good moment for our team and we’ll see how that plays out. Remember a lot of things from that, a lot of different guys talking and it meant a lot and we’ll probably try to recreate that.’’
Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton is the recipient of the NFL Players Association 2025 Alan Page Community Award, given to the player who “demonstrates a profound dedication to positively impacting his team’s city and communities across the country.’’
The NFLPA will make a donation of $100,000 to Slayton’s Left-Hand Right-Hand Foundation.
“Winning this award means more than words can describe,” Slayton said. “The main goal for me and my family has always been to be able to give back to the people in our communities. It’s not about the recognition, but I accept this award with grace and humility.’’
Slayton, 28, who in six seasons with the Giants covering 92 games has 259 receptions and 21 touchdowns, appears headed to free agency.
