PHLY Philadelphia Eagles Podcast - Eagles 26: Brian Westbrook & A.J. Brown, Two Pillars of Offensive EXCELLENCE | PHLY Eagles Podcast

Episode Date: July 15, 2026

We reach the top two offensive skill players on our list of the best Eagles since 2000, with Brian Westbrook, who tops the running back list thanks to his varied skillset and impressive longevity, and A.J. Brown, who you might remember from discussing him ad nauseum for the last 11 months. Do both go down as the best player in franchise history at their respective positions? Plus, your feedback on Diehard Day at PHLY.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello everybody and welcome for the P.H.Y. Eagles podcast on a steaming Wednesday afternoon, live from the Xfinity Lounge and presented by our friends at Ashley. Bo Wolf and E.J. Smith, how are you doing E.J.? It's good to hear your voice. It's good to be back in this chair. You know, I get to sit back and relax, watch you do the cold open. It's like you're watching a master at work. So I'm excited for the show. I have not finished the show from yesterday. I have reached the point of the parking lot incident. Oh, man. I have not fully made it through that, but I'm looking forward to it.

Oh, you haven't heard the whole story yet. It was a great story. I've made it to what Fran said on his, as he left. If you haven't watched yesterday's episode, you need to watch it just to figure out what Fran said to this lady. Some good Dallas.

Got our discussion in there. Everybody should check that out. But today, we return our focus to the ongoing Eagles 26. And it was also a die hard day. That will be involved as we move forward here. but I suppose we might as well get to it, E.J. Let's do it. Let's hear this.

Let's do it. I'm happy to hear this. We begin in a way where it's time to get introspective. Far and away, my least favorite thing about myself is how much time I spend looking at this stupid rectangle in my pocket. I find myself being probably too acutely aware of the fact that with three kids under 10 who are the light of life and who are all happy to be together, I know I will one day look back on this period as the best of my life. And yet, so often, when I'm on the ground playing with the baby or talking about dungeons

and dragons or having a catch in the living room, I find myself wanting to grab my phone for no reason at all. I'm an addict and I hate it. And I know I'm not alone. That is who we have become as a society, thanks in no small part to the devils of big technology, who have exploited our faulty wiring to their own immense profit,

their own addiction, which of course can never be satiated. They have attacked our brains, our memories, and especially our attention spans. So when someone suggests that Saquan Barkley is the Eagles' best running back of the 2000s, it's understandable. He's the most recent great Eagles running back. Who can be bothered to think back any further?

Anything before, I don't know, Game of Thrones might as well have been the Middle Ages, which is why I'm here to tell you, in the year of our overlords, 2006, to put some goddamn respect on Brian Westbrook's name. Now, the historical underrating of Brian Westbrook is in part a branding issue. Yes, he is probably the best Eagles running back of the Super Bowl era, but to call him a running back, so undersells the way he changed and dominated the Eagles offense. One could argue that he is the best combination of rusher and receiver

of any running back in the NFL this century. He ranks eighth in receiving yards since 2000 among all running backs, with the most yards per reception of anyone in the top 20, and the highest catch rate of anyone in the top 50. At the very least, Christian McCaffrey should pay Westbrook royalties anytime Kyle Shanahan designs a new play with him in mind. More to the point of this exercise,

Brian Westbrook was the Eagles offense for the better part of a decade. Remember that magical T.O. season in 2004 that landed him on this very list? Guess who led that team in yards from scrimmage? Westbrook's 1,515 dwarfed T.O's 1,195. And what about Sequin's magical 2024 season, which we have all agreed is the best in franchise history and maybe the best of all time?

Consider that Sequin in that year accounted for 32% of the team's total yards from scrimmage and had 6.03 yards per touch in otherwise forgettable, 2007 season, Westbrook, accounted for 2,1004 yards from scrimmage, good for 36.7% of the team's yards while averaging 6.04 yards per touch. And for a running back, his stretch of dominance was remarkable. He is the franchise's all-time leader in yards from scrimmage with 9,7885. He is one of only 15 running backs this century to top 4,000 yards from scrimmage in any. two-year stretch, and he led the team in yards from scrimmage for six seasons in a row from 2003 to 2008. That feat, leading a team in yards from scrimmage six years in a row,

has only been accomplished by eight other players in the league since 2000, and Westbrook did it in a much more unique way. On that list, Daniel Tomlinson, Frank Gore, Chris Johnson, Tiki Barber, Curtis Martin, Stephen Jackson, Ezekiel Elliott, and Derek Henry. Barber is the only one of those eight whose percentage of yards from scrimmage that came as a receiver topped 25%. And he was at just 29%. Westbrook share all the way up at 39%. Which is to say that Westbrook was a special player. and a player very much ahead of his time. And he was a hell of a punt returner too.

But was there anything more beautiful during those B-West years than the design screen, which have seemingly disappeared from the Philadelphia football lexicon? In many ways, he was Andy Reed's muse, his ability to remain patient amid the frenzied fog of football war, waiting for the perfect time to strike, follow a block, make a man miss, nothing short of sexy as hell. So please,

the next time you find yourself mindlessly reaching into your pocket for your phone, at least do something worthwhile and type Brian Westbrook highlights into the search bar. Maybe one day, you'll even remember to tell your kids about it. That was great. Excellent, excellent, excellent.

told. To me, the way that you put like him being Andy, Andy Reed's muse is really, really interesting because I think whenever Eagles fans talk about Brian Westbrook, they talk about him as being ahead of his time, being someone who is a trailblazer for a certain type of running back and the creativity and like innovation that goes into what he became with the Eagles. And I think, you know, you think about those teams with Andy Reed and the creativity that he had for his role. I think that's well put that he might he was Andy Reid's muse during that that era of Eagles football to figure out all of the different ways that he could leverage such a talented player. I think if you were doing like the Mount Rushmore of dual threat running backs of the

2000. Yeah. I think it's I think the Marshall Falk is the guy but yeah some of his dominance comes before 2000 but I think he's he's on that list. I think it's Christian McCaffrey. I think it's Brian Westbrook. Yeah. That's the top three. And you can, you could pick a fourth. L.T.

Sproul's getting in there at all? Sproles was not as good of, nowhere near is going to have a running back. Sure. Yeah, more of a specialist. I'm talking about guys who could really do it both. Okay. He was,

he was absolutely special. And I think the degree to which that offense, which was very good for the times that he was here, he was the offense. Mm-hmm. And again, even in the T. Even in the T.

That's a huge Westbrook. here. Yeah. And it's, it sort of speaks to what Tio did because he allowed, uh, E. West to not be just a focal point of opposing defenses. But,

um, I think as I did this research, I feel like we're still underrated Ryan Westbro. I think he is, I think your argument is, if he played in a different era, he gets appreciated more for what he, what he was able to do and probably has better,

numbers. I think the biggest thing, it's not even an era. It's if the team had just a little bit more success in those seasons. Yeah, but I also, it's one or, I think either work, because I think Christian McCaffrey wasn't always on great teams. And I think he was still appreciated for what he, what he was in those Panthers offenses. And I think Westbrook would have been appreciated more in the modern game for the innovation that was going on to, again, leverage all that he could do. But to your point, if they had won more in his era, you probably do hear more about, this offense that was built around him. But I mean, I remember watching him growing up

and just being mystified by all that he could do on a football field and all that he could do in that offense. You know, like I called my dad on my way in. First thing he said is multi-purpose. You know, like he was the definition of multi-purpose at a time where not every running back had that versatility in their skill set. And did he also bring up? I know that somebody in the chat has already mentioned

at the sliding before the end zone. Classic. He didn't bring that up. No, I mean, my dad, as a coach who probably did love that. But he mentioned what you mentioned. He was a good punt returner. And that sometimes, you know,

I don't want to say gets forgotten, but it is another thing you can appreciate about, that was just like a really good football player, man. Just like could do anything you wanted him, wanted him to do on the field. So number 12 on Eagles 26th. Less of 12, or the 26th best Eagles since 2000, Brian Westbrook,

let us know in the comments in the chat, Your favorite Brian Westbrook moments. Do you agree that he is the best Eagles running back of this century? I don't think we need. I thought you were going to steer this to the Sequin versus Brian Westbrook. We've done that already. I think we can appreciate him for the player that he is today. And I think where he is on this list, totally justified.

I think he belongs in this area of the list. Okay. Let's take a quick break. We'll come back. We'll talk a little bit more about B. West. prepare for the unveiling of number 11 on the list in the C block. Stay tuned on the PHA Y Eagles podcast. Happy Die Hard Day.

What if you could have reliable and intelligent Wi-Fi at the same price for five years in a row? Imagine Wi-Fi that makes everything in your home work together, cohesively, like E.J. Smith and myself. Wi-Fi that finds and fixes problems before you even notice them. Like super-intelligent Wi-Fi with a sixth sense. All your devices working in perfect harmony. Worfing?

Tristan Worf's? Get out of town. Here's the best part. No annual contracts, no hidden fees, and Xfinity's best equipment included. No worfing over here. That's what Xfinity is bringing to the table. Lock in your price and unlock the possibilities with Xfinity.

Learn more at Xfinity.com. Xfinity. Imagine. Select plans only. Restrictions apply. Work it up. One of my favorite days of the year coming up on Thursday. We are very fortunate at PHLY here to partner with big brothers, big sisters,

and something big is happening on Thursday. All Cities Day of Giving. Supporting the amazing folks at BBBS. And here's why it matters. Big Brothers, Big Sisters is built around one idea that every kid deserves someone in their corner. A trained, screened adult mentor who shows up consistently, listens, and helps a kid see what's possible for their life. That's the whole model. And it has changed outcomes for kids for over 100 years, a lot of them in the city of Philadelphia.

Now, the program doesn't run on good intentions alone. It takes real support to make every match last. And so that's why on Thursday on the P.H.O.M.Y. YouTube channel will have a special donation link so you can help us fund this incredible organization. Big Brothers, Big Sisters, All-City. Partners Together, help us out. Back in the P.H.O.Y. Eagles podcast, Bo and E.J. And as we roll on with the Eagles 26, we bring in the right people presented by our friends at True Mark Credit Union. Because it is die-hard day. Put out the call to the good, folks in the Discord last night to find out what what beefs they might have with the rankings so far. So let's go through some of those. We start with someone who must be a true sicken, a true troll.

What do we got first? Bridge Troll. From Claire McSnarkface. Thanks a lot, Claire. Claire says pretty much agree with. with any and all of EJ's taste. No, I think it was disagree. I thought she said agree.

Oh, she, oh, I see what you're saying. Yeah. The disagreement is that she disagrees with any and all of your takes. Yeah, just generally, just wanted to, to criticize the things I say on the show. I read that differently initially. She also says she thinks Jeremiah Trotter. Should have been higher Jeremiah Trotter on the list at, I believe, 18?

I can double check that for you. That was the, me and less. Hold on. Drott was One of the tabs It's in one of the windows He was he was 18 He was 18 yes

See I know my list The Sean Jackson 17 I don't know if I could I don't know if I could really Get behind it Pushing him up too much That list Yeah much higher

It's it's tough I mean he did spend all of his best years With the Eagles As a lesson I discussed But yeah I don't know It's he is like like in some ways is the exact opposite of the conversation with Westbrook where it's like you feel like Westbrook could have played even better in a future era. Trotter really was

kind of pushing the envelope of that era of Eagles football. And maybe that's, maybe that's part of the legacy that we remember him for. But I was fine with his placement on the list, which is why Claire to see. Sean, would you put him ahead of Shady? I don't think so. They've had a Troy Vincent. Troy, Troy's peak is probably better than Trotter's peak. I don't know that I can, I can, I don't know that like... I think, you know, even though Claire disagrees with everything I say, apparently, I think the argument for Trotter being higher is beyond the numbers and beyond, like, the actual on-field product and kind of the aura, the legacy of, like, being an emotional leader,

a spiritual leader for the team. And even still, like, you know, the player that, like, with LaShaul McCoy, your argument is somewhat like the emotional side of watching and play. I think you could make the same argument for Trotter. Yeah, I think that's fair. I don't know why I'm depending, Claire. I don't know that there's anybody above him who I would really push him over. Yeah.

I mean, I appreciate the feedback. I'm beef him with Claire, apparently, so I can't defend Claire. I mean, thinking of who side I'm on. You're on Claire's side. On the sicko side. Yeah. Next up on Die Hard Day. Slight disagreement.

From Rich Kotite's ghost as we get our first drop from the cooler. How could you waste one of your 26 spots on a kicker, let alone on a kicker who isn't even elite. Plus a future gripe, Jason Kelsey was never the best player on his own offensive line. How can he be the top offensive player?

We'll get to the Kelsey conversation. I think that's a fair point to bring up. I think Kelsey himself would probably agree with you. But let's focus on the kicker thing. Listen, I don't totally disagree with you. I was surprised myself that Jake Elliott landed the number 26 spot

but I think it was appropriate to give a little, give a nod to one of the few guys who won two Super Bowls Captain and again, as I said, this is the one piece of feedback that I got consistently from people in the building. Yeah. And I don't know if to, you know,

and I don't think it was the kind of thing where it was like, oh, in order to like help Elliot's confidence put him in there. So I decided to cede that one there are a lot of people who you could make a case for for 26. I feel like as we talked about, if I'll take you through like so, you know, Trotter is 18, Trey Thomas is 19, Sequin's 20, T.O. is 21, Runyon's 22, Hugh Douglas is 23.

Right about there, the final three spots, which were Asante, Zach Bonn, and Elliot, you could make a case for 20 guys for those last three spots. Yeah, I mean, I'm looking at my personal 26. I had Cooper de Gene. I was a couple spots over Jake Elliott because you know, you think about moments, that moment in the Super Bowl, the pick six. To me, that is a defining thing. Because I think your argument for Elliott is probably that when you look back at this era of Eagles football

and really the two Super Bowls, like if you look at those eras combined, he is a player that is central to it. I think Cooper to Gene will be central to the greatest. team in franchise history. And then Michael Vick. Willby is doing a lot of work there. Yeah, but I mean, he is right now. He still is central to that season.

Yeah. And I had Michael Vick. Again, for me, Michael Vick's argument was mostly down to like the heights and the emotional side of it. I mean, he was productive too, but it is more about like the kind of the intangible quality that he brought you because of how special he was as a player. So I would have had them over Jake Elliott, but I can see why you would have Jake Elliott on the list. You know, whenever I talk about the old areas of Eagles football, I talk about David Acres.

And I think that Jake Elliott has, you know, has surpassed that level as like B kicker for this generation. I mean, the truth is it's just good editorial list making, you know, any big lists like that. You want that last spot to be a conversation starter. Yeah, that's true. Yes. But yeah, you can make a case for Brandon Brooks. You can make a case for Sheldon Brown. Eelham Carter, Devante, Slay, Lido, Sheldon.

You could make an honest case for Carson Wentz. Now... Eelan Carter, did I say him? I think, yeah, you did. I think most people realize by now, like, this list is not just your list, but you were the primary person to put it together. If you could just choose somebody for 26, like the heart wants what it wants. the list is the list, I am just the, um, the vessel through which it has come down to earth.

Of course, and it is indisputable. Oh yeah, the list is the list. Okay. If you were choosing, if you didn't have this, this grand obligation to the rest of the audience to get the list, the perfect list, who is the heart wants what it wants? Who would you, who would have been your number 26? For me, it's Cooper to Gene. I think he belongs just on this list.

I think for me it might be Vic. Yeah. In the sense that I think if we did the exercise of, and this would be a fun exercise to do, you go through every season and who was the guy to pick one person who was the eagle of the year, essentially. And if you are ever that guy, like there's a good chance that you should be on the list.

Now, you could say that for Carson in 2017, but the fact he doesn't win the Super Bowl, and probably not him. Yeah. In 2010, that's the Vic year, and that's a team that made the playoffs for some of the reasons that you talked about, the fact that he, like,

the guy who everybody in the locker room revered, I think that probably would be the guy who had. Yeah, you know, like that Sequant aspect where the entire team, a great team, They all pointed to him and said he's the one that's different. Michael Vick had that too. I see Joe 76 says Zach Bond. To me, I think that is real projection.

He's on the list. He's number 25. Yeah, he was on the list. You had him at 25. I stand by that. I feel like Bond's inclusion on the list is kind of a projection for what he will be for the Eagles. If you remember what I said. You know, I don't because I forget everything.

That year, Bond's 2024, was the, was the default. defensive equivalent of Sequin's season. It was one of the two or three singular best defensive seasons for any eagle this century. And it's a position

that the Eagles had been starving for. Obviously, he changed the way that they thought about the position. And I think for all the reasons that you want to celebrate 2024 and one of the best teams of Eagles history, I think he is the poster child for that deal.

And you make the case for Cooper to Jean. As I said then, I think Cooper was the guy on last year's defense. Yeah. A 2024 defense was Zach Bond's team. I agree. Cooper, it's more about the moment. Zach Bonn also had an interception in that Super Bowl. Yeah, it wasn't like the pivotal moment,

but it was part of sealing the game. I don't regret you having Zach Bonn in your list. He probably would be a few spots behind Michael Vick on mine. Okay. That I can really get putting DeGine over Bonn. It's the moment. It is, I'm pointing direct. directly at the pick six in the Super Bowl.

Like having a pivotal moment in a Super Bowl, I am waiting that heavily. Okay. Yeah. Next piece of feedback on Die Hard Day from Pat. And this is interesting. I think there's a chance that as Devante continues to produce for the next few years,

AJ's tenure is dwarfed so. They coexisted together, but obviously AJ was 1A. However, he asked out, Fonte may end up being one of the last. longer, tenured Eagles, wider receivers of all time. Maybe on Pat's list, specifically. I think the fact that we've talked about Deshawn Jackson and not A.J. Brown probably says

that on our list, that, like, that tenure doesn't necessarily have as much weight as great seasons. But, you know, Devante's here for another championship run. That will push him much higher up this list, especially if he's the number one, which we expect them too. Yeah, I think if you were asking me who is not on a list that's going to be in the list if we do this exercise in three years. Devante is the answer. Quinyan and Dijin are probably easy answers.

I think Jalen Carter is an easy answer, but I would be pretty surprised if Dvante does not work himself up this list also. Yeah, that's an interesting question. Who is more likely to be on this list in five years? DeGine or Devonte. I guess it's Dijin just because he's younger, you know? Like he has like his prime theoretically still ahead of him, although he's playing incredible right now. But Devante will have like the body of work to push him into this list as well. I agree.

He wasn't in my top 28 when I did my list though. I don't know how far down he would have been on yours. Probably like fringe right around the 30s right now. Worcester says this list is for 26 years. Making decision based on one play is effing bananas. It's not. It's the Super Bowl. It was. a pick six in the Super Bowl, to call it one play, is also effing bananas. So I don't know what to tell you, man. No, but I will say, the one thing that I will say. Also, like, half of the guys on this list were only Eagles for a short period of time.

It's not like anybody played for 26 years. Like, what are we doing here? This is a Cooper de Gene pick six in the Super Bowl. Yeah. I think you are. Just one play. I think you are overstating only to the degree that, That game was already over.

I mean, I think that was the moment that swung the game. That to me, yeah, that to me was the moment where everyone looked at each other and said, the Eagles are going to win the Super Bowl. Yeah, that's true. Why are we trying to minimize the pick six in the Super Bowl? Like, listen, I think I'm just a little bit cranky because, like, I had to do the hot take day yesterday and I've been getting my, you know, backside kicked for like. Have you?

A little bit. I mean, I always overstate this, but, you know, I don't like it when the sickos are yelling at me about it was hot take Tuesday. Like I was supposed to bring the heat. Whatever. It's fine. It's all good. I didn't think that takes were hot enough.

I mean, me saying that Vic Fangio doesn't maximize Cooper to Gene. But again, I think that was like intentionally framed in a way that, you know, listen. I was hoping we were going to get like, men shouldn't be allowed to vote. I mean, like that. I think some of Fran's hot takes were just like Jalen Carter's good at football. well. I actually thought that he was a, that was a, I think he's right that we are probably understating how good Julian Carter is to some degree.

I think that's, yeah, I said that that's fair. I said I'd be introspective about that one. And you're trying to walk back to Rick Will and Love? I will find the clip. I'll find the clip of me saying I'm selling my Rick Will and stock. I bought it before OTAs, which was the perfect time to buy it. And now, you know, this is not my, he's not my Keeley Ringo. And listen, you know, got to take the L on Kili Ringo.

Okay. All right. Let's take our next break in a second as we close the book on the Right People, presented by our friends at True Mark Credit Union. Thank you to the Bridstrolls in the Discord. Yeah, thanks, Britschall's. A little bit more to come on that front as Diehard Day rolls on. But for now, we take a break on the other side.

We return with Noomberg. 11 on the list. Elkins Chevrolet run by three brothers, real brothers, local guys, and right now they are going all in. Check out their inventory of Chevy trucks and

SUVs, the ones people actually want priced to move. Fast. Silverado, Equinox, Tracks, Trailblazer. If it's on your list, they've got it, and these puppies are going fast. So if you have been waiting, stop waiting because once they're gone, they're gone for good. Whether it's getting to the game, getting back to work, going out of town, going down

the shore, they'll be driving off in the right ride at a price that makes it an easy yes. And at Elkin Chevrolet, there's no runaround, no back and forth, no games, just real brothers making real deals every single day. Elkin Chevy, real brothers, real deals, and a whole lot of honking good service, Route 73 South and Marlton. Next, let's talk about Goldbelly. It's the service that lets you order iconic food from famous restaurants all over the country and have them shipped right to your door. Ask anyone around the PHOI office, and they'll tell you, the quality of this stuff is incredible.

And honestly, it feels like bringing a legendary restaurant right to your home. That's what's so cool about Goldbelly. You can get Chicago deep dish pizza from Lou Malnades, New York Cheesesteak from Juniors, Franklin barbecue shipped straight from Texas to your house. house, that's one that I've got my eye on, or even the famous stone crab from Joe's in Miami. And it's not just restaurants. You can also order meals and specialties from world famous chefs from all over the world. The shipping is easy. If you're skeptical about it, you can listen to us, you can trust us here, that it will arrive exactly how it should, and it is made for, and the whole

occasion will feel a little bit more special when you order from Goldbelly. So if you're looking for the perfect gift or want to impress your friends or family with an epic meal, go to goldbelly.com 20% off your first order with promo code, P HLY. Welcome back. P.HL.Y.E.G.E.G.S. Podcast. Bo Wolf E.J. Smith. Time now.

We talk about number 11 on the left. Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. Or, more to the point. Better to have always been open than never to have been open at all. We have arrived at A.J. Brown. Maybe you've heard of him.

After all, he is the man responsible for the two most prolific receiving seasons in franchise history. His arrival on draft night, 2022, and the accompanying FaceTime seen across the world completely changed the course of the Eagles franchise. That season, his presence turned the Eagles offense from an above-average one, do arguably the best in the league. Along the way, he dominated, celebrated, pointed, and smiled. He finished the season with a franchise record, 1,496 yards receiving,

even if he needed an extra game to do it. We know you're watching quick. We got your back. He did it with big plays down the field and by shrugging off tackles over the middle. He did it by being the baddest man on the field. His numbers in 2023 were nearly as good with 1456 yards on a higher volume of catches, though he did miss that playoff loss that season with an injury.

In 2024, he was once again dominant when the ball came his way. But the changing nature of the offense turned it into Saquan-Barkley's season, and there was a new bad boy in town. As Eagles fans all appreciated Brown's outer excellence, he searched for it on the sidelines and the pages of a book. He was human in his acknowledgement of the difficulty of taking a back seat. He was vulnerable again in admitting his unfulfillment and having won the Super Bowl. That peek inside for such a public person was admirable, even if it foretold what now feels like an inevitable divorce. for the most part.

It was an awesome three years and a tumultuous final one. There are all kinds of ultimately beneficial, fulfilling relationships that play out in such a fashion. Usually, those things take time to appreciate. So, how will we

look back on AJ Brown's tenure in Philadelphia? For that, on Discord Day at PHLY, we tapped into you the sickos. on our Discord channel. Here's what you said. Rich Cote's Ghost. One title. It should have been two,

and he didn't blow up things on the way out like T.O. did. Usually when a wide receiver complains about not getting the ball, the reaction from fans is usually shut up and play. I think with AJ, it was, he's right, throw him the damn ball. Claire, I suspect down the road,

which might be five or seven years, fans will mostly look back on the AJ years fondly since he was a real turning point in how the organization instructed the receiving corps. Josh Katz. Very happily. He was an incredibly good, even more fun to watch. Sucks how it ended, but he didn't burn the bridge

until after he was traded. Jay Chy. AJ was awesome for the Eagles. I have nothing but fond memories of him as an eagle. T.T. Penn. Indeed. I think he will be remembered fondly. As the years go on, I think the breakup memories will fade

and the good stuff, the Super Bowls, records, et cetera, will be more front of mind. A better Eagles career than T.O. for sure. Headline plays. He's the best wide receiver in Eagles history and was a top two best slash most important offensive player on a Super Bowl run. Not appreciating that is straight up sour grapes,

especially if you grew up watching McNabb throw to subpar guys. Finally, Paul M. On the heels of the All-Star game, I think if Phillies fans have forgotten hatred of Scott Rowland to the point he was catching an opening pitch from Mike Schmidt, they'll forgive AJ. And so, as we all count down the days

to Eagles, Patriots, joint practices, mid-August, try to figure out how the Eagles are going to replace AJ Brown. We entrench AJ Brown on the Eagles 26 at number 11, AJ Brown. Very fitting number 11. Yeah, always open.

It's interesting, and shout out to the diehards. It was really good to hear from them talk about AJ. It's funny because we haven't talked much about AJ in the last six weeks. And what a different six weeks has already made. Because, you know, I'm not saying that those specific diehards would have felt differently six weeks ago, but the conversation around AJ

I think the break from it has already been beneficial. And I agree. I think we will look back at what AJ did in an Eagles uniform. You know, his best seasons came in an Eagles uniform. And some of those seasons are the best in franchise history in terms of output. So I think we will have fond memories of it. And it's interesting to hear that six weeks away, removed from the trade and the months and months of speculation, you're already starting to be able to be a little bit reflective and say like, yeah, he was really good here.

You know, like his heights were incredibly high when he was with. Yeah, I don't know if it is something about this particular sample of sickos who know ball, but I am surprised that there doesn't seem to be more of an anti-A.J. sentiment, at least in the portion of the fan base that watches our show. Because, I mean, I like AJ Brown, too, but he did force his way out. And, like, was pretty pouty last season in a way that attracted from the team. success. Yeah, I think that most people understood his frustrations, though, and I think that's what you heard from the diehards. And I think that our audience in particular, probably watched this

season, like, beat by beat. You know, they kind of consumed everything as it came, and they understood sort of how we devolved into a place where AJ did force his way out. So I don't know. I mean, I sort of understand why he wanted to leave, and I think it's a shame for the Eagles that they couldn't figure out a way to navigate it. But yeah, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't think that people blame him necessarily for the fact that, you know, he did want to leave for the way that the offenses look the last few years. You know, I think that everyone shared those frustrations, which is probably part of why they're not pointing the finger at him for it. What are the, close your eyes, think of A.J. Brown moments that come to mind for you. I mean, the one against

the Steelers where he's pointing at the guys on the ground. Like, that is just such a, like, I'm him moment. The one against the Titans, you know, not when he was, you know, you know, whip in the end zone stanchion, but actually like the play that preceded that where he runs through, I think it was Christian Fulton, just like runs right through him. And like it's defensive pass interference,

the cornerback is on the ground and AJ Brown is running into the end zone. It's like the ultimate N1 scenario for a receiver. And honestly, those are the moments that stand out to me, but like the feeling that you have watching him, especially in person, as I was lucky to be able to watch him,

you know, just game in and game out, the feeling of him, being like the most unstoppable force on the field for that 2022 season, that 2023 season before things blew up. I think that's like what I'll remember is like, man, you just, he felt inevitable sometimes where it's like it's third and six and they need this, they need this conversion. You know it's A.J. Brown on the slant route and there's nothing you can do about it. Like this guy is just unstoppable right now. I think of him and as just as I'm going through the Rolodex in my mind, he's a perfect made-for-tiv football player

in the sense that, like, I think to appreciate Devante Smith, you need to watch him in person. Yeah, right? Like the television angle is not going to give you the full sense of Devante Smith's brilliance. I think most wide receivers, you know, because you're not, you have to watch the replay

to see exactly how they ran routes, right? Or how they manipulated space. I think with AJ, the way they, he wins is not necessarily like technique. It is by just being bigger or badder than the person covering him. And so often it's those one-on-one situations that are like in this frame and scope of the angle

of the broadcast. And so I don't think that there's a huge difference in appreciating AJ's greatness from being there versus just watching it on TV because he is like as a player, he's already kind of larger than life as in the way that he wins. Yeah, I like that. I mean, there's not a lot of nuance stages.

Right. The late hands is nuanced. Late hands is great, yeah. Outside of that, there's not a lot of nuanced stages. Right. He is just better than the guy across from him. Right. He's going to run through you or he's going to jump over you.

Yeah. Yeah. The other moment that I'll never forget is the fact that he just ended. Now, manual forms is kind of steady himself a little bit, but just ended that guy's career for a little while. Some of us knew what's going to happen. I will also, I will, frankly, I will remember the Rams game from last season. Yeah.

You know, when it's like they can't get this guy involved. And all of a sudden they come back from 21 points down or whatever it was by just throwing him the ball and he's shaking people off like they're just pieces of garbage. Yeah, that was a special, like a special stretch from him in particular. Obviously, it was a great game. But because it's like he was running hitch routes, you know? Like anybody who was watching the 2025 Eagles knows what he was running before I even said that. He wasn't running like elaborate routes. And like I think the defense knew he was running hitter routes.

It was again, it was just like sheer force of will. You know, and he had moments like that in offenses that were less predictable and more dynamic. But yeah, when he wanted to make a play more often than not, you could trust him to make that play. And so how do you feel about him being this high up? I think it's a good future proofing for the list because I think in a year's time, two years time, I think people will look back at AJ's tenure and be like, you know, he was a major, major reason for this era's success. Obviously, it's funny. You know, I was thinking about it.

Like the 2020 season, you know, one of the diehard said, like, should have been two. If they win in 2022, probably higher on this list. No doubt. Because that was, I mean, that season. That was his season. Yeah, but everybody played well, but he was like a key, key cog in the way that they operate on offense. that year. Like that AJ Brown Slant route attached to the RPO's that they ran that season,

you can't do it without AJ. And he was like the infusion for that offense that year where they inject, they add him to that offense. It adds this whole new dimension. Jalen's thrown over the middle of the field. You're right. That was his season. If they win that championship, you probably are pushing AJ in the top 10.

Oh, for sure. Yeah. Without a doubt. Yeah. I mean, listen, the Super Bowl stuff carries a lot of weight. I think on this one game. It's one game. Thankfully so.

It's just one game. One play. 26 years. One play with the critique. I know. I'm, you know, intentionally being a little bit. It will actually dishonest,

but it's just one game, Bo. He can't be overstating that. All right. Do you think we've gotten it right? I mean, we've gotten it right, but how do you feel about the fact

that this is what is right with respect to A.J. Brown in the list of Eagles 26. I don't know. I think after, I think you can make a case that Westbrook should be ahead of him, but I think it landed in a good spot. Yeah, it's hard to compare, like, the guys who won championships as major pieces in those championships

against guys who were just, like, great because of their tenure with the team. It's hard. Who are you taking? The Eagles trio of running backs or the Eagles trio of receivers? So, AJ Deshawn T.O. Ooh, man. Or Westbrook Shady. Well, it's, it's hard because like, when you say AJ Deshaun Tio, the first thing I think about is those three guys in the field together, and it's harder to do that for running backs, obviously.

I mean, you know, not in the head to head, but what's a better collection, you know? I'm going to guess that more teams have a collection of receivers that are that great, and most teams probably don't have three running backs that can reach those heights. just that's my first instinct when I will tell you I think you're I think you're probably right I did I did this exercise uh for the Westbrook research of like actually looking through who led every team in yards from scrimmage oh nice every single season uh see if there's anybody who had you know six in a row and there were there were a few but it was a fun I mean it was a what an exercise and just remembering some guys yeah Ruben drones is all over the place all these guys but yeah there are more, they're probably more

wider because, you know, T.O. was one year. Yeah. So there are guys of the you know, Mushen Muhammad type who were really good for four or five years in a row, whereas running back it is a little bit more of a fickle position. Yeah.

I mean, it's, and the Eagles trio of running backs there are just all iconic in their own. I think if you were ranking the 25 best running backs of the century, you probably have. There's a chance that three of those guys are on there. Yeah, I think, I think they are, because I think Westbrook gets on because of his versatility. I think you're, are you thinking Shady's the one that's like close?

No, I think Shady's on. Yeah, I think Shady's on. It's funny. Now, I'm not saying that the pro football reference, like Hall of Fame monitor is everything. The Pro Football Reference Hall of Fame monitor has LaShawn McCoy in and amongst a bunch of Hall of Fame. So, yeah, I think all three of those guys are top 25 of this century. Whereas with the receivers, now there's, you might have to go top 40 receivers or something like that. And even then, I don't, well, I mean, all four, all three of those guys probably do make it. But you're looking at this tweet that this thing is definitely not true. Yeah. I hate when the chat does that to me. Like, they're taking advantage of like my beat reporter. Here's what I'll tell you. There's no way that Jalen Carter trade is involving a Yuma.

Oh. Well, I didn't get that far. It just took me, it took me once I saw it. No, whatever. It's fine. I think the running backs are the more impressive collection, but I mean, I have a follow-up question for you. A.J. Brown, Terrell-Oens, and DeShon Jackson all on the same team. Who's forcing their way out first? It's like, get me out of here. Well, I was thinking about this in the sense of, from an Eagles perspective, replacing AJ, if you wait around long enough in the NFL, a great receiver is going to be wanting to leave somewhere. Yeah, this is what Tom Brady said.

It doesn't have to be this year, but over the course of the next two years, there's a good chance that a Pro Bowl caliber receiver wants to be traded and the Eagles are very involved. Yeah, I mean, Tom Brady said that on the new height show, like it's just the nature of the position that these guys every offseason, you're going to get somebody. That's a good point. I mean, by the trade deadline, you might have an elite receiver that wants a new destination.

All right. You didn't answer the question. I'm going to hold you to it on the other side. Oh, who would force themselves out first? Who's requesting the trade first? Now, are they, when do they, when do they come together? They're, like, let's say that, let's say that there's a, you know what, let's do this on the other side.

I have a fun, I'm a fun way to do with this. I want to get the specific situation. I want to know who the quarterback is. I have a fun scenario here. And I'll give you an answer on the other side. Stay with us. Yeah. Hello.

Let's talk about our friends at ace. Because the heat and the humidity, it's not just. snaking in, it is barreling down the door. That means a lot of pressure on your cooling unit. Your AC is not cracking like it should. Don't you worry because Ace Hardware Home Services has got you covered. From AC repairs to water heaters, plumbing, electrical, whatever it is that's bothering you with the house.

Ace has a trust of local pros to bring the same helpful service you know from Ace, right to your home. Whether it's a quick fix or a bigger summer project, they've got the tools, the know-how, and most importantly, the people to get it done right. Ace Hardware Home Services, bringing helpful to your home. Visit Ace HardwareHomeservices.com today to get started. Ellen P.HLY sent you.

Next, we just want to thank all of you for being a part of the PHOI community. You know, we are always looking to improve our shows and better understand how you listen and what you value most. And that's why we really want to open this up and have a two-way conversation with you guys. Obviously, you know, we have our events. They're honestly my favorite time of the years when we get to have events and see the community out in public and we get to talk about the shows. But we're also launching a new quick survey that allows us to have this two-way conversation even more.

And your feedback can help shape the content you love and make it even better across the H-O-I. It only takes a few minutes, but it can make a big impact in how to you. how we do shows, the videos that we create, and the conversations that we have. So you guys can take a moment, head to all p.h.org.com slash pull, and let your voice be heard. And respondents have a chance to win

a $100 Amazon gift card. You know, this is just in time for the end of the summer. Maybe you've got your eye on something on Amazon. So fill out the survey, get a chance to win the gift card. And again, I just want to say, we appreciate you guys.

Hello, everybody. We're back on the P.H.O.E.G.S. podcast, Beau Wolf, E.J. Smith. We have inducted Ryan Westbrook, A.J. Brown into the Eagles 26 and number 12 and number 11, respectively. Let's find out the specifics of this

imaginary situation. So like, let's say that Jeffrey Lorry has been hanging out with some of his billionaire friends. And one of them is like, I've got these like, this revitalization serum that, you know, we've been workshopping it. It's totally legit. Restore

anybody in the world. to like their 22-year-old self and athleticism. Just athleticism. Okay. Yeah, athletic. No, they have to have the same maturity level that they had when they played. No emotional growth.

But that's what I'm asking. Is it at the beginning of their careers? Let's say the peak of their powers. Or like mid careers. Peak of their powers. Because I think with Deshawn, if you got Deshawn early in his career. Yeah.

I think that he would be okay being the big play threat, third banana on that team. Oh, yeah. Because he didn't yet, know that he could necessarily be the number one guy? No, you're getting, you get a mate in their prime. So they know, they all know what they can do.

Because I think AJ, you could probably make the same argument. His first couple years, he's not going to be. All right. So all three of them know they're, they're that guy. Who's like, I'm out. I'm done with this. And who's the quarterback? It's not Jalen Hertz.

Let's say, who would be like the most? Who would be the best? handling it. The best at handling it? Oh, man. That's actually probably, there might be Jailet actually. Let's just go with a generic, like nameless, faceless,

top 10 quarterback in the NFL. Okay. I don't want to, yeah, because otherwise it's going to color your argument. The court, it's a veteran, but a okay veteran. Let's say it's like a. It's Justin Herbert. Justin Herbert.

Lindsay's favorite Justin Herbert. All right, it's Justin Herbert. It's not just a normal guy. The idea of Justin Herbert throwing in Deshawn Jackson. It's kind of nice. Yeah, moonballs. 90 yards. I think that, I think Tio is probably the one.

I think that's the right answer. I think Tio makes it one season. I don't think, I mean, Tio never stayed happy anywhere. Yeah. And you got four, You got three years of happy AJ. Yeah, but we'll see how AJ's tenure in New England. And I think even in Tennessee, it was four years there.

Yeah, and it was really the contract more than just like unhappy with the situation there. And I think Deshaun, Deshaun had certainly his own peculiarities and things that were not necessarily team first. But I don't know that he forces himself really ever forced his way out somewhere. Yeah, I could see Deshauner. he was more leave me alone. Yeah. Than I need to go somewhere where I can get the ball.

I think he knew he would get the ball. Yeah, I don't know. Deshaun was on like the 2024 Eagles though or 2025 Eagles and they won a game, but he only had two catches and they had like 83 net passing yards. He'd be pretty upset. I think he would be angry, but I don't know. I don't know that he would march into how he's office and say trade me. Oh, that's fair.

Yeah, I think, yeah, that's fair. I think AJ and Deshaun. He would just be cranky. AJ and Deshawn probably would have gotten along quite well. Yeah. I think they would have gotten along. AJ never had issues with teammates, well, most of his teammates. Yeah.

Yeah. That's a fun one. AJ and Deshawn would be a fun pairing. You'd need, like, I mean, you'd need Jalen Hertz, deep ball quarterback. Somebody who throws a really good deep ball with those two. What about Shady and Sequin on the same team? How are those touches working at? Hmm.

I must feel like, who would, Who would be your move player, your move running back if you had those two? Because that's what you'd have to figure out, like, how to feature one of them. Not as running. Shady's a better receiver. Yeah. But I feel like you also want him in the backfield. Yeah, I mean, that's, I think you put one ball.

I don't know. You just run 20, you run like 21, 22 personnel the whole game. I don't know how you just divide that. You probably, Seekon probably gets unfairly put. into like a powerback role in that type of scenario. But then you still want to get him the ball plenty. Yeah. Just the look of him, the coaches would make him the number one running back.

You see the, like, look at his legs. Right. I think, I think if you have to think of it as, it's like a high school team, these are the guys who just show up. You don't know who's on your team. And like, oh man, how am I going to give these guys touches? If you have, if you had two running backs like that in high school, A, like, congratulations.

And B, you probably put LaShawn McCoy at receipts. as crazy as that sounds you're just like look at this one got to Sean AJ and I mean at that point those are those are good problems to have um okay you've got a got a World Cup take thing yeah um I'm gonna try to say this delicately uh oh I have enjoyed like everyone watching soccer for the World Cup but I'm just gonna be a I'm ready for everybody to just not watch it anymore Like, I like soccer is like, my thing.

Stop liking my thing. Well, yeah, basically, yes. You know, I likened it to Fran yesterday. It's like, in the lead up to the draft, like, Fram will inevitably have somebody who comes up to him and it's just like, I can't stand the draft. I can't stand it. It's the worst.

You know, there's so many uncertainties. Nobody knows anything. And, like, Fran has to just sit there and just be like, yeah, okay. Now, obviously, Fran, like, puts more into the draft than I do soccer. gonna say let's but it's the same thing it's like something that i am like passionate about who's who's who's in your face about saying that they don't like soccer i've had a lot of people because they know how much i like it like they they feel like they target me oh the flopping where they cut yeah it's like oh the flopping and the off side and the time at the end of the half it's just all so confusing

and i don't like it and the penalty against you know the penalty like from yesterday's game that's the moment that decides the game. This game is so dumb. And it's like, I don't, like, I don't need you guys to like the sport. Nobody was asking you to like the sport. Um, so I don't know. If you like soccer, if you've been joining the World Cup, like, this isn't directed at you just, okay. So it's not that it's not that you don't like people joining the conversation and no, not at all. I love, I love that like my group chats have started talking about soccer. It's the people who are like telling me why soccer stinks. Okay. It's like, I didn't, I don't need you to tell me why you don't like it. I didn't ask you to like it. So it's really, but I can promise you,

this has been like somewhere between a half dozen and a dozen times I've dealt with like people just like, oh my God, the flopping is so bad. How can you watch this? And it's like, I like the sport. I didn't need you to like the sport. I wasn't begging you to like it. How do you feel about this is when we were discussing yesterday with my brother watching that game, different tiers of penalty kicks? Because like it is unfortunate that that foul. Edge of the box foul. Edge of the box on the side is, you know, whatever it is. 0.8 of a goal.

Yeah. 9 of a goal. Could you have one where it's from a different angle further back? Could you have like, yeah, could you have four penalty spots or even just two, depending on the severity of how much of a goal scoring opportunity it was? I like the idea of instead of like an edge of the box foul like that being a penalty, you have like a blue card where you're out for 20 minutes or something like that. I could get on board with that.

I mean, you already have like the edge of the box fouls. Maybe make the penalty box smaller. Make the 18-yard box smaller. Oh, that's interesting. Yeah, just make it a little bit tighter. Because I agree like a foul on the edge of the box feels like it shouldn't be worth the point-eight. Especially when it's not, they're not even moving toward the net. Yeah.

You know. But like, let me- I know that's the deal. That's part of the game. Yeah, and like, Lucidine, that is a stonewall penalty. Like, that is, it's unfortunate, maybe, but it's like you need to have awareness. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, he, Le Mian Maud's going for the ball.

So, I don't know, that one didn't bother me. I knew that, I know there was a lot of discourse around it. What if they were just, there's the normal one, and then for ones that are not necessarily an obvious goal-scarring opportunity, you take it from the top of the box down the middle. I think Megan the box smaller solves your issue. I think that that's probably the answer. Maybe it's like the game has changed. And honestly, with.

how much they can review like the handballs on the edge of the box, like inside the box, I would like that to be eradicated from the sport. I don't like it when, when like you have an unintentional handball on the edge of the box basically stopping across. And it's like, yeah, penalty. I can agree with that.

I'm not saying the sport is perfect for the record, but I just, yeah, I need people to calm down a little bit about how much they hate soccer. It's like, you can hate it. I don't, and like,

I think what it is personally, I don't need to convince you to like it. If you don't like it, that's fine. How about you move the spot back, but the goalie has to be a non-goly. A field player has to be the goalie. That'd be kind of fun. That'd be kind of fun.

I mean, I don't know. I feel like a field player, yeah, probably about like 40% of a goalie's capability. How about a 2V1, you blow the whistle? 2V1? Yeah. I don't like that one. Too chaotic,

especially if you have the Sourloff, the Norwegian guy. I'm still thinking about that. Old old jabroney. Blew it. Maybe we'll give you some more soccer ideas to get E.J. to hate soccer in soccer time. Extra time. Extra time.

That's good. I like that. We should probably get going and watch that game, I guess. Yeah, I'm excited. Morgan Rogers is starting. Are you rooting for England to win? I'm rooting for Morgan Rogers to, succeed.

You know, the messy story is fun, but got mixed feelings about the Argentina team overall. So, yeah, I'll be rooting for England. I called something on the show yesterday, by the way. I literally said, Lucanine is a liability at left back against Lemenia Mall, and like five minutes later, he conceded that penalty. So let me see if I can

channel some predictions today, see if I can keep this hot street going. I think Morgan Rogers has a big moment in this game. He's playing off the right, which isn't my favorite spot for him. I think he's going to drift in. And I, he's, he's so good. I mean, I watch him every week. So I started going to go to Saka. After how good he was. Yeah, they've been playing Madweke. And Madweke is, he was, he's stunk. He's awful. I don't know like who Bad Weike's agent is, but man, that guy or that person, man or woman, hat tip to you, because that guy has never been good. Every time I

watch him, it's funny, Julia gets annoyed because I just talk trash about Madweke the whole game. Because I don't, he never does anything good. And like, that's a thing. And like, that's a thing. thing is he's never proven me wrong. Like he's, he's just, he's a myth as the, as they, as they say. All right. Morgan Rogers, off the right. Make it, have a big moment. We'll find out it's coming home.

Oh, I hate that. But that means that this episode is coming home. Time to close it out on the PHA YGO's podcast. Thank you, everybody for watching and listening. Don't miss tomorrow our big fundraiser day. Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Fran will

join us in studio. We've got five, different tiers of donations you can make to Big Brothers, Big Sisters to make us do stuff or get yourself something. Yeah. Make us do stuff. Listen, the price is right. We are companymen. So for Lindsay and Brian and AJ and E.J. I'm Bo.

We thank you for watching. Thank you for listening. Let us know in the comments. If you have any other disagreements with the Eagles 26 thus far and join us tomorrow. for our big fundraiser day with Big Brothers, Big Sisters. As always, we love you.