A.J. Brown did not have to wait long to find out how Mike Vrabel was going to handle him in the New England Patriots. The head coach made that clear in one of their first team meetings, and Brown quickly learned that his reputation was not going to buy him much patience.
That probably is not a bad thing for a receiver; the Patriots just made one of its biggest investments in. Brown arrived with a proven track record and big expectations; however, Vrabel has already shown he's willing to get on him when a play isn't finished the way it should be.
Jun 10, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel holds a press conference before minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Vrabel did not waste much time reminding Brown why the Patriots brought him to New England. During one of Brown's first team meetings with the Patriots, Vrabel called out the veteran receiver after a missed opportunity in practice. It was not some dramatic confrontation but Vrabel making it clear that Brown is going to be held to the same standard as everyone else, maybe an even higher one.
"A.J., obviously those are plays we expect, that you expect. This is why we signed up to be together, okay? For you to make those types of plays. Yeah, we all know that.

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