A.J. Brown On Jalen Hurts Relationship After Eagles Trade: 'There's No Bad Blood'

The long-awaited trade of wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots finally came to fruition on Monday. But as the deal went down, it further raised the question of how things went sour so quickly between Brown and the Philadelphia Eagles. Brown's relationship with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was widely speculated as a top reason why Philadelphia opted to move on from the star pass-catcher. Brown confirmed that his relationship with Hurts wasn't as strong as it once was during an appearance on the "7 p.m. in Brooklyn" podcast. However, Brown dispelled the notion that he holds any animosity toward Hurts. "Not as close as we once were. I believe that's fine. There's no bad blood. There's actually a lot of love. I love him. I love him to death. I want him to succeed and accomplish all the things he wants to accomplish," Brown said. "I didn't truly understand why our friendship became the center of everybody's attention when it came to football, because, looking back at it, we haven't been as close as we were for a couple of years now." Brown took to social media to air out his frustrations with the Eagles' offense throughout the 2025 season. Even though Brown had 78 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns, he continued to be visibly upset by not having a consistent role in Philadelphia's offense. That led to rumors about Brown's relationship with Hurts and what might have caused the two to grow apart. But Brown isn't sure what might have led to his relationship with Hurts souring. "Nothing happened. People just grow apart, and nothing happened between me and him or our families, wives or anything. Nothing like that ever happened," Brown said. "But life happens. You just look up sometimes and find yourself drifting away, and that's fine. I think both parties accepted that." Brown and Hurts played together for four seasons, with the wide receiver joining the Eagles after he was traded from the Tennessee Titans in 2022. Together, the pair appeared in two Super Bowls, with a win in Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025. Last season, the Eagles' run to repeat fell short, losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round. That loss ended up marking the end of Brown's time in Philadelphia, with trade rumors swirling shortly after. And as the rumors began, Brown shared that he told his agent he didn't want to be with the Eagles anymore. "Just talked to my agent. Had a one-on-one sit-down, and he got the green light from me," Brown said. "I was kind of behind the scenes. I wasn't pushing anything and he worked his magic, you know? So, we're here." It had been reported for months that the Patriots would be the likely landing spot for Brown. There were a few reasons why New England would've enticed Brown, too. The Patriots were coming off a Super Bowl run, with Drake Maye emerging as one of the NFL's top quarterbacks. On top of that, heading to New England means that Brown will reunite with his former Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel. But as Brown landed with a team that many thought was an ideal landing spot for him, he denied that he requested to only be traded to a certain team. "I kind of let [my agent] handle that," Brown said. "Obviously, I know it's my career, but I trust him in that area, in that space. That's your job. We talked about a few things, not to get into details, but I let him know all of it. Like I said, it was one of those things where I sat back and enjoyed my family each and every day. That's my only focus: being the best father and husband I can be."

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A.J. Brown Earns High Praise From Patriots: ‘Closest Thing I’ve Seen Is Gronk’

A.J. Brown has already made a strong impression on his new team. The New England Patriots' newest wide receiver received strong praise from head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on Tuesday. In fact, after seeing Brown practice for the first time since the Patriots traded for him on Monday, McDaniels compared the star wideout to one of the greatest Patriots players of all time. "There’s a force to the way he plays the game … Maybe the closest thing I’ve seen is Gronk," McDaniels told reporters, referring to former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. "This is a big guy." Gronkowski became synonymous with the Patriots’ physical identity during his career, dominating defenders with his size, strength and presence in the red zone. Gronkowski logged 79 touchdown receptions in his nine seasons with the Patriots, as New England hopes Brown can be its next great red zone threat. Vrabel believes that Brown can not only succeed in that role, but he also thinks the wide receiver can bring a similar edge to New England’s offense that Gronkowski once did. "I think he loves football," Vrabel told reporters on Tuesday. "I think that he has a physical skill set. I think he’s got great body control. I think he’s strong at the catch point, but I also think he’s grown as a player and wide receiver." Vrabel has seen Brown’s development firsthand. He coached Brown for three seasons with the Tennessee Titans, seeing the 2019 second-round pick quickly blossom into one of the NFL's top pass-catchers. As the two team up again for the first time since 2021, Vrabel still has a unique understanding of what Brown can bring both on and off the field. "Just the nuances of release versus press or playing versus bracketed coverages," Vrabel said. "[Brown] plays physical with the football and has been a productive and physical player." Brown’s ability to overpower defenders while still creating separation has made him one of the league’s toughest matchups at the position. That type of talent has helped Brown log six 1,000-yard seasons in his first seven years, reaching that threshold again in 2025 in what many thought was a down season for the former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver. Vrabel believes those traits can help elevate the Patriots' offense moving forward, as the team looks to make another Super Bowl run in 2026. "I’m just excited to add the player," Vrabel said. "I know that the football team is looking forward to having him at practice and get acclimated and whatever that looks like today. For Brown, reuniting with Vrabel and officially being traded to the Patriots still hasn’t fully sunk in. He described the move as feeling almost like "heaven," capturing just how surreal the moment has been now that it’s become reality. "Just trying to take it all in as much as I can," Brown told reporters. "Obviously, I got back to work quickly, but there are levels to it. I’m enjoying it. Obviously, I know this ain’t heaven, but it’s close to it."

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A.J. Brown Earns High Praise From Patriots: ‘Closest Thing I’ve Seen Is Gronk’

A.J. Brown has already made a strong impression on his new team. The New England Patriots' newest wide receiver received strong praise from head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on Tuesday. In fact, after seeing Brown practice for the first time since the Patriots traded for him on Monday, McDaniels compared the star wideout to one of the greatest Patriots players of all time. "There’s a force to the way he plays the game … Maybe the closest thing I’ve seen is Gronk," McDaniels told reporters, referring to former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. "This is a big guy." Gronkowski became synonymous with the Patriots’ physical identity during his career, dominating defenders with his size, strength and presence in the red zone. Gronkowski logged 79 touchdown receptions in his nine seasons with the Patriots, as New England hopes Brown can be its next great red zone threat. Vrabel believes that Brown can not only succeed in that role, but he also thinks the wide receiver can bring a similar edge to New England’s offense that Gronkowski once did. "I think he loves football," Vrabel told reporters on Tuesday. "I think that he has a physical skill set. I think he’s got great body control. I think he’s strong at the catch point, but I also think he’s grown as a player and wide receiver." Vrabel has seen Brown’s development firsthand. He coached Brown for three seasons with the Tennessee Titans, seeing the 2019 second-round pick quickly blossom into one of the NFL's top pass-catchers. As the two team up again for the first time since 2021, Vrabel still has a unique understanding of what Brown can bring both on and off the field. "Just the nuances of release versus press or playing versus bracketed coverages," Vrabel said. "[Brown] plays physical with the football and has been a productive and physical player." Brown’s ability to overpower defenders while still creating separation has made him one of the league’s toughest matchups at the position. That type of talent has helped Brown log six 1,000-yard seasons in his first seven years, reaching that threshold again in 2025 in what many thought was a down season for the former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver. Vrabel believes those traits can help elevate the Patriots' offense moving forward, as the team looks to make another Super Bowl run in 2026. "I’m just excited to add the player," Vrabel said. "I know that the football team is looking forward to having him at practice and get acclimated and whatever that looks like today. For Brown, reuniting with Vrabel and officially being traded to the Patriots still hasn’t fully sunk in. He described the move as feeling almost like "heaven," capturing just how surreal the moment has been now that it’s become reality. "Just trying to take it all in as much as I can," Brown told reporters. "Obviously, I got back to work quickly, but there are levels to it. I’m enjoying it. Obviously, I know this ain’t heaven, but it’s close to it."

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Browns GM Andrew Berry On Myles Garrett Trade: Jared Verse 'A Perfect DNA Match'

Everything we expected to happen in the NFL on June 1 transpired. The Philadelphia Eagles traded star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots. Odell Beckham Jr. reunited with the New York Giants. And the Los Angeles Rams acquired superstar defensive end Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns. Wait, what's that last one? Yes, Garrett, who set the NFL single-season record with 23.0 sacks last season, was traded to the Rams in one of the biggest deals in league history. For Garrett, the Browns received a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-rounder, a 2029 third-rounder and third-year linebacker Jared Verse, whose addition excited Browns general manager Andrew Berry. "He's a huge part of this return for us. Jared is an outstanding football player — a former Defensive Rookie of the Year and a two-time regional ballot Pro Bowler," Berry said about Verse when discussing the blockbuster trade at a press conference on Tuesday. "He's a perfect DNA match for our attacking front. He's really a terror in both phases, both as a run defender and a pass rusher. We are really, really excited about adding him to our team. "He allows us to continue to play defense at a high level, which has been our standard over the past several seasons, and we're really excited to welcome him into the organization." Verse, whom the Rams selected with the No. 19 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Florida State, was the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in a campaign that saw him total 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 66 combined tackles in the regular season and then two sacks and a 57-yard scoop-and-score across two postseason games. Last season, Verse racked up 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 58 combined tackles. Verse, a Pro Bowler in each of his first two seasons (2024 and 2025), was second in the NFL in hits (20), fourth in forced fumbles (three) and solo tackles (38), fifth in assists (18) and sixth in hurries (52) in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. Verse joins a Cleveland defense that was third in the NFL in opponent passing yards (167.2 per game), fourth in opponent total yards (283.6 per game), 14th in opponent points (22.3 per game) and 16th in opponent rushing yards (116.4 per game) last season. Granted, all that happened with Garrett, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and five-time All-Pro. The Browns have a new head coach in former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, whose defense coordinator is former Atlanta Falcons defensive pass game coordinator and New York Jets linebackers coach Mike Rutenberg.

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Best Super Bowl Betting Sites & Sportsbook Promos

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Football is here! Super Bowl LXI will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California — home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers — on Feb. 14, 2027. The Super Bowl is a prime opportunity for sports betting, so it is time to look at the best Super Bowl betting sites. Sports betting is legal in several states via licensed sportsbook. In this guide, we'll cover top Super Bowl betting sites and apps, as well as top sportsbook promos. Best Super Bowl Betting Sites 2026 When it comes to betting on the Super Bowl, there are numerous opportunities available across various sportsbooks, as it is arguably the biggest betting event of the year. Between DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Fanatics, bet365 and Caesars, there’s a betting opportunity for all. New users can also stack promotions across multiple books before deciding which sportsbook best fits their betting style. Don’t settle on just one — claim as many offers as possible to maximize your bonus value, then stick with the book that feels right for you. Here are the best Super Bowl betting sites you can use for 2026. DraftKings Overview Welcome Bonus Why It’s Great for Super Bowl Betting Standout Features Verdict FanDuel Overview Welcome Bonus Why It’s Great for Super Bowl Betting Standout Features Verdict BetMGM Overview Welcome Bonus Why It’s Great for Super Bowl Betting Standout Features Verdict Fanatics Sportsbook Overview Welcome Bonus Why It’s Great for Super Bowl Betting Standout Features Verdict bet365 Overview Welcome Bonus Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 of greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&CS, time limits and exclusions apply. Why It’s Great for Super Bowl Betting Standout Features Verdict Caesars Overview Welcome Bonus Why It’s Great for Super Bowl Betting Standout Features Verdict Best Super Bowl Betting Promos & Welcome Offers Like with many websites in general, there are incentives just for signing up. If you create accounts at these popular sports gambling sites, usually you will get some form of welcome offer. Let's check out the options. DraftKings: Bet $5, Get $200 Instantly New DraftKings customers can bet $5 and get $200 instantly. The instant credit gives you immediate flexibility, and adds strong football-season value. Deposit at least $10, place a $5 qualifying wager (minimum odds often -500 or longer), and the bonus bets arrive right away. This is a Bet & Get offer; bonus bets typically expire in 7 days and only winnings are withdrawable. FanDuel: Bet $5, Win, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Place a $5 first cash wager and, if it wins, you’ll receive $150 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins. No promo code is needed. This suits bettors who already like a favorite and want extra upside on a small first play. Deposit $5 or more, place your first $5+ cash bet, and if it wins FanDuel credits the bonus (usually within about 72 hours). This is a Bet & Get (win-triggered) offer; bonus bets generally expire in 7 days, and only bonus winnings can be withdrawn. BetMGM: First Bet Offer up to $1,500 paid back in Bonus Bets if your first wager loses With BetMGM, your first wager is protected up to $1,500 with promo code FOXSPORTS. If it loses, BetMGM refunds you in bonus bets. No promo code is required in-app. This "safety net" is ideal if you want to take a bigger first swing with less downside. Deposit at least $10, place your first cash bet of $10+, and if it loses you’ll get a refund in bonus bets (bets $50+ are typically split into five equal tokens; <$50 returns as one token). This is a First-Bet Safety Net; bonus bets usually expire in 7 days and only winnings are withdrawable. bet365: Bet $10, Get $200 in Bonus Bets (win or lose) Bet365’s welcome is simple: wager $10 and get $200 in Bonus Bets, win or lose with promo code FOX365. The low qualifier and outcome-independent credit make this one of the easiest ways to get started. Deposit $10+ and place a $5+ qualifying bet to unlock the bonus after settlement. This is a Bet & Get offer; bonus bets typically expire in 7 days, only the winnings can be withdrawn, and a minimum-odds requirement applies (often -500 or longer). Fanatics: Get a 100% bet match up to $100 in FanCash for 10 days. Fanatics often runs Bet & Get structured promotions, such as a daily match on bets (e.g. Get a 100% bet match up to $100 in FanCash for 10 days.)— though the specific Indiana offer must be confirmed. Sign up today. Caesars: Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Your Next 10 Wagers with Code 'FOXDYW' The Caesars Sportsbook promo code FOXDYW allows new users to bet $1 and double their winnings on their next 10 wagers with 10 × 100% Profit Boost tokens. Check it out here. Popular Super Bowl Betting Markets There are multiple ways to bet on the Super Bowl that involve the score of the game, player statistics and even Gatorade bath color. Let's take a look at a few major betting markets. Moneyline & Point Spread A moneyline bet is the simplest form of wagering — you’re just picking which side will win the game outright, disregarding the score. The odds determine how much money you will make. Heading into the Super Bowl, there will be a favorite and an underdog. A heavy favorite might only return a small profit, while backing the underdog can lead to more money if they pull off the upset. The point spread is the expected final score difference between two teams. If the spread is 3 points, you'll see that as both -3 and +3. The team that is favored to win the Super Bowl gets the minus-number (-3); the underdog gets the plus-number (+3). If the favorite is -3, that means it must win by more than three points to cover the spread. If the underdog is +3, that means it must lose by fewer than three points or win outright to cover the spread. Totals (Over/Under) An Over/Under bet, also called a total, is a wager on the combined number of points, runs, or goals scored in a game. So for the Super Bowl, the sportsbook sets a line, and bettors choose whether the final score will go over (more than the posted total) or under (less than the posted total). Player Props A player prop bet is a wager on an outcome other than the final score, like player stats in the Super Bowl. Examples include: Same-Game Parlays (SGPs) A same-game parlay (SGP) is a wager in which you bet on multiple outcomes occurring from one specific game. Unlike a traditional parlay, SGPs focus solely on events within this one specific game, such as the Super Bowl. A bettor could wager on the moneyline, spread and how many passing TDs for a quarterback in the Super Bowl on a single betting slip. Novelty Props Novelty props are wagers that don't always relate directly to the outcome of the game. Examples include: Super Bowl Live Betting Sites Live betting (also called in-play betting) is just that: instead of betting before the game, you are actually gambling as the game is going on. This kind of gambling is prominent in the Super Bowl because of the high viewership, frequent stoppages, and dynamic odds changes. Examples of live betting include wagering on the next scoring play, updated point spreads, or quarter/half totals. The benefits of live betting include reacting to game flow, hedging and capitalizing on momentum shifts, and potential drawbacks include fast-moving odds and risk of impulsive bets. Gambling disclaimer: Only individuals aged 21 and over are permitted to gamble. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Gambling is subject to local state regulation and is illegal in some states. Please gamble responsibly – information relating to responsible gambling can be found here.

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Texans QB C.J. Stroud On Potential Extension: 'I've Held My Bargain Up'

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud can sling it, but the results have been a mixed bag over three years, with roaring highs and concerning lows. Now, it's decision time, as Stroud is extension-eligible. What are the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year's thoughts on the matter? "I let my agent handle that [extension talks]. If it's time to do it, then it is. My job is football. That's what I'm focused on, just getting better. I think I've held my bargain up," Stroud said at the Texans' OTAs on Thursday, according to ESPN. "Whatever happens, happens." In the aforementioned 2023 campaign, which also saw Stroud earn a Pro Bowl nod, he totaled 4,108 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, five interceptions and a 100.8 passer rating (sixth among NFL quarterbacks) across 15 regular-season games, while completing 63.9% of his passes (22nd) in a year that saw Houston win the AFC South at 10-7 and make the playoffs for the first time since 2019; they defeated the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round. Stroud & Co. followed up 2023 with another 10-win season, a division title and a wild-card round victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024. At the same time, they were again eliminated in the divisional round, this time by the Kansas City Chiefs. In the regular season, Stroud threw for 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while posting an 87.0 passer rating (25th) and completing 63.2% of his passes (27th). Then, last season, Stroud posted 3,041 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 92.9 passer rating (17th) across 14 regular-season games, while completing 64.5% of his passes (20th). Houston won the AFC South and reached the divisional round for a third consecutive season, going 12-5. However, the Texans were also eliminated in the divisional round for a third consecutive season, with Stroud throwing four interceptions against the New England Patriots in the season-ending loss. "I am a motivated person regardless. Of course, [the playoff struggle] helps," Stroud said. "I have learned to let failures and successes go quickly." Regardless of one's view of Stroud, he's likely to become a top-10, if not top-five paid quarterback given the contracts that a handful of signal-callers who are arguably in the same ballpark as him from a sheer pedigree standpoint have received; Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love are in a four-way tie with Josh Allen and Joe Burrow for being the second-highest paid quarterback in the sport with a $55 million average annual value in their respective contracts; Brock Purdy and Jared Goff are tied for sixth among quarterbacks with a $53 million average annual value in their respective deals. The Texans selected Stroud with the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Ohio State; they exercised his fifth-year option for 2027 in April.

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Nick Bosa Expects to Be 'On Track' for 49ers Season Opener Following Knee Surgery

Nick Bosa is encouraged by the pace of his recovery from another major knee surgery and believes he's on track to return to the field during training camp and start the season on time for the San Francisco 49ers. That wasn't always the case for the star edge rusher in the early days after he had his third major knee injury of his career when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Week 3 last season. "It was rough early on, obviously," Bosa said Thursday in his first news conference since the injury last September. "You just want to be able to play, especially how good things were going for the defense and me personally. I felt I was at a pretty high level to start the year. Then as you start out wanting to quit, never play again and never put your body in that position again. Then slowly you realize that you love this game and you want to get back to it. I never doubted that I could get back to where I am." The reports so far on Bosa's recovery have been positive and he is on target to be back on the field this summer. Bosa said his previous experiences with this type of injury helped him during the rehabilitation process. He said he did a better job not rushing the recovery, knowing he had more than 11 months between the injury and the start of the 2026 season. "When I did it in ’20, it was just like ... get back, push every milestone as hard as you possibly can," Bosa said. "I probably dealt with some stuff that I didn’t need to deal with in terms of just kind of the bumps in the road of recovery. Now, I’m taking it slow and I kind of have references to go back and look at." Bosa's return will be a key help for a 49ers defense that ranked last in the NFL last season with 20 sacks. Bosa has had at least nine sacks in the five seasons when he didn't get hurt in the opening month as he has been one of the most productive edge rushers ever since being drafted second overall in 2019. Bosa has made the Pro Bowl in all five of his healthy seasons and won the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2022, when he led the league with 18 1/2 sacks. Bosa’s 74 1/2 sacks in the regular season and playoffs are the fifth-most in the NFL since he entered the league in 2019 despite missing nearly two full seasons. His 280 total pressures rank fourth-most in the NFL in that span, according to Sportradar. No Bosa brother reunion Bosa didn't seem optimistic about a possible reunion with his older brother, Joey, who remains unsigned after playing last season in Buffalo. "I think he’s working on his golf game right now, so I don’t think he is thinking too much about football," Nick Bosa said. Joey Bosa turns 31 in July and is coming off a season when he had five sacks in 15 games for the Bills. While the 49ers could use more juice at pass rush, adding Bosa doesn't seem to be a likely option at this point. "I look at our team as kind of we have our team and anyone else that we can figure out to bring, especially someone like that, that’d be awesome," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "But that stuff’s not always possible." Isaac Guerendo injures pectoral muscle Running back Isaac Guerendo's chance to bounce back from a disappointing second season hit a setback when he tore a pectoral muscle lifting weights. Shanahan said he expects Guerendo to be sidelined until late in training camp. Guerendo showed promise as a rookie after being drafted in the fourth round in 2024, rushing for 430 yards on 84 carries with four touchdowns. But Guerendo fell to third team last season after the team acquired Brian Robinson to back up Christian McCaffrey. Guerendo didn't get on the field for a single offensive snap all season, being relegated to special teams duties. The Niners also waived running back Sincere McCormick and signed running backs Jermar Jefferson and Jordan Mims for depth in the offseason. Safety Darrick Forrest was placed on injured reserve. Reporting by the Associated Press.

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