Eagles stars Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown say relationship is 'good' after teammate suggests fissure

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown’s troubles connecting on the field have yet to blow into a family feud inside the locker room — honest, both Philadelphia Eagles stars said.

Between Hurts and Brown, it’s all good in Philly.

“Me and Jalen are good,” Brown said.

Added Hurts, “We’re good, we’re good.”

So there will be no sit-ups in the driveway, no apologies on the front lawn, and certainly, it seems, no rift between Hurts and his No. 1 receiver.

Hurts and Brown each downplayed any hint of a fissure Wednesday between the two after defensive end Brandon Graham appeared this week on a Philadelphia sports radio station and suggested there was friction between the Pro Bowl duo. The two were close friends long before they became teammates and Hurts is the godfather for Brown’s daughter.

Graham's comments — in which he noted “ things have changed,” between the two, without offering specifics — exploded into tabloid and fan fodder this week in Philadelphia. His insinuations that the duo were not on the same page came on the heels of Brown's quote after a sluggish win over Carolina that the “ offense ” wasn’t playing up to standard, even with the Eagles at 11-2.

“BG knows he spoke out of place,” Hurts said.

Graham, who is sidelined with a triceps injury, clarified his comments later to an ESPN reporter, saying he made the wrong assumption about the relationship between Hurts and Brown and planned to apologize to both players.

Brown, with 109 yards receiving combined the last two games, said his beef with the offense wasn't directed at Hurts. It was everything from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore's play calling to execution to all the ingredients in a successful offense that make a team a Super Bowl contender.

The usually pass-happy Eagles have leaned more on running back Saquon Barkley, who set the franchise season rushing record of 1,623 yards against the Panthers and is chasing Eric Dickerson for the NFL mark.

“Obviously, it's not about running the ball,” Brown told reporters. “He's about to win MVP. Clearly. What other things can we do on offense? We have to pass the ball. That can go into protection, that can go into picking up the block, that goes to us getting open quicker. Getting on the same page.”

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said he never witnessed any issues between Hurts and Brown and only saw two players who worked hard together, even working on routes after practice and seemed to have a deep personal connection on and off the field.

“You guys get to see three hours every Sunday where emotions can play as high as they’re going to play,” Sirianni said. “I get to see these guys every single day, how they go about their business and interact with each other.”

Brown, who was coming off consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, wasn't necessarily wrong in his frustration with the recent stagnation of the passing game.

Hurts, who signed a contract extension ahead of the 2023 season that was worth $179.3 million guaranteed, has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in three straight games. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith — who also complained Sunday about the offense — was also coming off consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons but has yet to break 100 yards in a game this season. Brown has four 100-yard games, well off last season’s run when he topped 100 yards in six straight games and seven times overall.

Hurts has been more efficient than explosive this season but has still thrown 12 touchdown passes to just one interception — and rushed for 11 more scores — during the Eagles' nine-game winning streak that has them on the brink of clinching the NFC East.

Maybe playing the Steelers on Sunday at home can snap the Eagles out of their offensive malaise. Hurts threw three TD passes to Brown in a 35-13 win in 2022.

“Do we all have things to get better at in the passing game? Yeah, I think that’s obvious,” Sirianni said. “I think that’s what we’ve been talking about. We all have things that we’ve got to get better at, coaches, players. But this is why this is the greatest team sport there is. It takes everybody. It takes every single person being together, every single person for the success to happen. It’s just not a one-person thing.”

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) runs the ball under pressure from Carolina Panthers linebacker Trevin Wallace (56) and Carolina Panthers safety Jordan Fuller (20) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown talks to his daughter Jersee before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) watches after Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) runs with the ball as Carolina Panthers cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. (32) and linebacker Josey Jewell (47) trail behind during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) reacts after teammate quarterback Jalen Hurts scored on a run against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Basketball Hall of Famers Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady are among 10 limited partners who have joined the Buffalo Bills’ ownership group.

The noncontrolling, minority interests were approved Wednesday by NFL team owners at the league’s winter meetings. This is the first time in Bills' franchise history that minority owners have been added.

NFL team owners approved a measure earlier this year that allows investments into franchises by private equity funds. The league’s ownership rules had been among the most restrictive in professional sports.

Other teams also are finalizing the addition of limited partners. NFL team owners also approved Wednesday the minority, noncontrolling interest sales involving the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles.

Terry and Kim Pegula bought the Bills for $1.4 billion from the estate of late Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson in 2014.

As part of the deal, they will retain about 79% control of the team, a person with knowledge of the sale told The Associated Press. Under the sale terms, the Bills were valued “well north of $4.5 billion,” a second person told the AP, meaning the Pegulas will get more than $927 million in the deal.

Both people spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the Bills did not reveal those details.

Carter and McGrady's connections to Toronto — both played for the NBA Raptors — are considered advantages because of their potential to help the small-market team generate further interest in Canada's largest city, located about a two-hour drive from Buffalo. Toronto is considered part of the Bills' marketing region, with southern Ontario residents representing more than 15% of the team's season-ticket base.

Former U.S. National Team soccer player and MLS Champion Jozy Altidore is among the new limited partners.

The remaining seven partners, pending final closing of the agreements: private investment firm Arctos, Rob Palumbo, co-managing partner of Accel-KKR; Sue McCollum, CEO and owner of beverage distribution companies Eagle Brand Sales and Double Eagle Distributing; Theresia Gouw, co-founder and managing partner of the venture capital firm Acrew Capital; Rob Ward, co-founder, general partner of venture capital firm Meritech Capital; Mike Joo, COO, Global Corporate and Investment Banking and Head of North America Corporate and Investment Banking at Bank of America; and Tom Burger, co-founder and managing partner of the investment firm Gridiron Capital.

“I’m the kind of person that I believe two heads are better than one,” Terry Pegula said. “We can bring in Arctos with their experience worldwide and multiple sports, I think is a good thing. And I’m willing to listen on the business side to any input they may have. Our other limiteds, the individuals, most of them are Bills fans from their youth. They were Bills fans before I was a Bills fan. So I’m excited to deal with them. One of the things that I wanted to accomplish also was to bring in some women. We’ve got two female investors who are very successful business people. I’ve got three daughters that are involved in the team, hopefully more so in the future. And I think that’s a good thing for them to learn some business acumen from and have some female input. Because when Kim went down, that was a loss of influence on my daughters. As far as the business side goes, she’s unable to be involved.”

Kim Pegula is still recovering from a debilitating cardiac arrest suffered in June 2022.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross announced an investment deal with Ares Management funds and Brooklyn Nets owners Joe Tsai and Oliver Weisberg.

The transaction includes assets such as Hard Rock Stadium and the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, with the investment fueling continued growth across Ross’ diverse South Florida-based sports and entertainment portfolio. Ares will acquire a 10% stake, while Tsai and Weisberg together will hold a 3% interest, pending final closing of the agreements.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie received approval for the sale of an 8% interest of the team to two family investment groups, a person familiar with the agreement told the AP. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't announced the deal.

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady already purchased a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders in a deal approved by NFL team owners in October.

AP Sports Writers John Wawrow in Orchard Park, New York, and Alanis Thames in Miami Gardens, Florida, contributed to this report.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

FILE - Former Toronto Raptors player Vince Carter speaks to media ahead of his number retirement at the Scotiabank arena in Toronto, Nov. 2, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

FILE - Tracy McGrady is seen during the second half of the NBA All-Star basketball game, Feb. 16, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh, File)