A.J. Brown Explains Why Mike Vrabel 'Ripped' Him in Patriots' 1st Team Meeting at Training Camp

New England Patriots star wide receiver A.J. Brown explained why head coach Mike Vrabel called him out in a team meeting after the first practice of training camp.

"First team meeting, he ripped me for not bringing in a catch," Brown said Monday, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. "Early on as a rookie, I didn't really like that too much. Now I know it comes from a great place. He expects me to make that play and so do I."

Brown initially grabbed a pass from Patriots quarterback Drake Maye with his right hand, but couldn't complete the catch before the ball fell to the ground.

"Just bring it in. I did the hard part -- caught it away from my body -- but bringing it in with my other hand," Brown said, via Reiss. "Vrabes doesn't care about style points and I don't either. So maybe he thought I was trying to get the crowd going."

The three-time Pro Bowler is entering his first season with the Patriots after they acquired him in a June 1 trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.

New England sent a 2028 first-round draft pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for Brown.

He's already familiar with playing under Vrabel, who was previously his head coach on the Tennessee Titans throughout the first three seasons of his NFL career from 2019-21.

Brown is now expected to play a key role on a Patriots squad coming off a Super Bowl LX appearance.

During his 2025 campaign with the Eagles, he hauled in 78 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games.

Brown was a consistent weapon in Philadelphia's passing attack throughout his tenure with the team, recording at least 1,000 receiving yards and seven scores in each of his four years on the Eagles.

New England's receivers struggled to make a strong impact last season, as Stefon Diggs was the team's only wideout to eclipse 600 yards.

As Brown looks to help the Patriots win the AFC East again and go on another deep playoff run, he doesn't mind receiving criticism from Vrabel.