Got it from his ‘mama’ | Sports Daily Newsletter
And Eagles players react to the A.J. Brown trade.
The “Nova Knicks” could give you something to root for in the NBA Finals.
The trio of former Villanova teammates — made up of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges — will compete in Game 1 tonight vs. the Spurs (8:30 p.m., ESPN).
There’s also an incredible story behind Bridges that you’ll want to learn. The Philadelphia native graduated from Great Valley High School. His mother raised him as a single parent.
Tyneeha Rivers grew up in West Philadelphia. She was the first member of her immediate family to go to college. At age 19, she gave birth to Mikal. Family and friends were skeptical that she’d be able to have a career of her own while taking care of a child.
She was determined to prove them wrong. Tyneeha went on to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees — all while raising a young boy to become one of the best basketball players in the world.
— Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
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Cristopher Sánchez made Phillies history last week. Could he make major league history this week?
Sánchez needs a scoreless first inning Wednesday to pass Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell for the longest scoreless streak by a left-hander. The development of his slider has contributed to this transformation from a fringy major league pitcher to a Cy Young candidate.
“The results are showing now, so it’s something to feel really good about,” Sánchez said recently through a team interpreter.
Behind five solid innings from Aaron Nola and 12 shutout innings from the bullpen, the Phillies grinded out a 3-2 win over the Padres.
What we’re …
🤔 Wondering: What members of the media — both nationally and in Boston — are saying about A.J. Brown joining the Patriots
👂 Hearing: The wide receiver says there’s “no bad blood” with Jalen Hurts and he always wanted to be a Patriot in first interview with Maria Taylor.
🏀 Learning: All the Philly connections in the NBA Finals, including the Sixers castoff turned Spurs starter.
There’s always more to the story. The Eagles wouldn’t have moved Brown if they weren’t open to the idea, and the star wide receiver might not have wanted to leave if the destination didn’t suit his preferences.
But at last, the saga is over. The Eagles players will miss their former teammate and understand that business is business. There also was a sense of relief with the trade behind them.
DeVonta Smith is now the unquestioned top receiver. The title of “WR1” isn’t a totally new thing for Smith, and right now, the job requires the 27-year-old to learn the scheme, which he described as “different” from what the Eagles have done in the past.
Want to know more about how the offensive scheme is coming together? Take a look at Jeff McLane’s takeaways from the second open practice of organized team activities on Tuesday.
All in just over a week, Brenden Aaronson took a Leeds to London round trip, then Manchester, New York, Atlanta, the Jersey Shore, Philadelphia, and back to the U.S. men’s soccer team’s World Cup training camp.
But it was worth every moment. The Medford native recently got married, his club team finished clear of relegation in England’s Premier League, and his national team is getting ready for its biggest-ever World Cup.
He’s finally getting the chance to soak it all in.
Sports snapshot
‘Heart and soul’: As West Chester continues its chase for a Division II baseball title, the Rams are leaning on their longtime batboy Timmy Hoge’s support.
Judgment call: A New Jersey track runner was disqualified for knocking over his opponent’s hurdle. His parents say it was unfair.
Team USA bound: Friends’ Central’s Ryan Carter, one of the top recruits in the Class of 2027, is hitting the big stage with the women’s under-18 national team.
Over A.J. Brown’s four seasons, the Eagles won one Super Bowl, played in another, won 73% of their regular-season and postseason games, and qualified for the playoffs every year.
The Eagles traded Brown not because they didn’t want him to play here anymore, but because he didn’t want to play here anymore.
Brown told the world that winning at the highest level wasn’t enough for him. No one should be surprised that his personal quest has taken him out of Philly, writes columnist Mike Sielski.
🧠 Trivia time answer
A.J. Brown departs the Eagles as the only player in franchise history to notch 1,400-plus receiving yards in multiple seasons (2022, 2023). His 2022 single-season franchise best broke a decades-old record. Whose record did he break?
If you said Mike Quick, then you know your Eagles football, that or you read Olivia Reiner’s story on Monday. Either way, nice work.
Some Eagles players expressed that the uncertainty of the trade carried weight. Can you guess which player said this quote? Find your answer here.
What you’re saying about A.J. Brown trade
We asked: What did Brown do for you? Among your responses:
A truly elite athlete, and once my favorite Eagle, in the end, he disappointed me with his immaturity and self-absorption. You do not complain while the team is winning and the performative sideline “reading” was sad. Unlike our beloved Ben Franklin, he was not born to be a Philadelphia lifer. — Tommy O.
I neither loved him nor despised him. Teams win Super Bowls not individuals. Brown did not win the Super Bowl, the EAGLES did. No doubt as Marcus Hayes pointed out, he was one of the all-time best Eagle receivers, but at the same time was often not present when most needed. He was a malcontent who probably needed a Lombardi type leader. I hope he can man up and become a super star for the Patriots. — Everett S.
Seems the way things worked out it was either Hurts that had to go or Brown. The Eagles are a better team with Brown on it. When Hurts didn’t show up for A. J’s recent wedding, that was the last straw. Personally, I would’ve had no problem if they sent Hurts packing. However, that’s not how the NFL works. WR’s are replaceable. QBs are not. Both of their attitudes were bigger than their commitment to the team. Wishing AJ nothing but the best. It sure gets mighty chilly up in New England in the middle of the winter! GO BIRDS. — Ronald R.
He did nothing for me. If I want to pay to see clowns I’ll go to the circus. — Silvio M.
Trading away a generational talent takes a lot of nerve, quite a gamble for certain. I’m not sold on the compensation package as I don’t see any immediate assistance benefiting the ‘26 team. The rookies and newcomers will have to play very well to compensate for the loss. I still strongly suspect a form of collusion between three parties to plant this seed. True or otherwise I can’t be certain but the idea of this exchange was kept alive in the press for far too long. Coincidence? I think not! — Bill B.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Mike Sielski, Alex Coffey, Scott Lauber, Jeff McLane, Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Ryan Novozinsky, DeAntae Prince, Gabriela Carroll, Jonathan Tannenwald, Mia Messina, Conor Smith, Isabella DiAmore, and Brett Friedlander.
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That’s it for me this week. Kerith will get your morning started you in Thursday’s newsletter. — Bella