MICHAEL STRAHAN has told A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts to resolve their issues privately after some apparent bumps in their relationship were made public.
Despite a 10-game winning streak for the Philadelphia Eagles, topped off with a 27-13 win on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers that clinched them a playoff place in the NFC East.
Last week, Eagles star defensive end Brandon Graham hinted there was a rift between receiver Brown and quarterback Hurts after Brown had said the team needed to improve on passing.
Graham had said: “They were friends before this, but things have changed, and I understand that because life happens.
“But, it’s the business side that we have to make sure that we don’t let the personal get in the way of the business, and that’s what we gotta do better right now.”
However, speaking on Fox before the win on Sunday, Strahan told the Eagles to sort out any issues in private to avoid creating unwanted headlines.
He said: “The team’s winning! Nine straight games. Handle this in the locker room. Don’t handle it in the public.
“[Brown] set records a few years ago, Saquon Barkley is setting records now.
“So offences change, they evolve, right now they’re leaning on the run game, they’re leaning on Saquon Barkley. It’s working.
“He does deserve to get the ball, he’s one of the best receivers in the league, but also understand that you’ve just gotta fit in sometimes how you fit in.
“You can’t let your ego and numbers and stats get in the way of what the team is doing.”
Following Graham’s comments, Brown had insisted there was no bad blood between himself and Hurts.
NFL Insider Jay Glazer also claimed that both Brown and Hurts had told team-mates during a team meeting that there was no rift to speak of.
Glazer said: “They nipped that in the bud real quick there.”
Graham is said to have apologised to the entire team collectively following the clarification.
The Eagles play the Washington Commanders next with a record of 12-2.
If they beat the Commanders, they will also clinch the division title.