If you know anything about how the NFL preseason works, then you know that when teams come together for joint practices, it’s always a marked occasion simply for the fact that we all know these dudes are about to throw down.
For some reason — not that anyone is complaining — the grind of working out and playing football at the hottest time of the year can lead to some pretty incredible on-field fights.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports that 1 particular joint practice possibility this offseason could be 1 for the ages — what could be a mega-super-spectactular throwdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots.
“Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and Eagles coach Nick Sirianni have had preliminary discussions about the possibility of having the teams practice together in the preseason — likely in Foxborough, according to a league source,” Reiss wrote on Sunday. “Part of that would be tied to the NFL granting the teams’ request to face each other in the preseason, which isn’t usually a major hurdle. If it happens, the atmosphere and competition at the newly named New Balance Practice Fields would be buzzing.”
Depending on 1 individual, it could be much more than buzz — it could be an event.
Eagles-Patriots Also Circling Blockbuster Trade
The Eagles and Patriots have seen their teams’ names mentioned together on almost a daily basis this offseason — all thanks to a potential blockbuster trade that would send 3-time NFL All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Eagles to the Patriots.
Brown is not only a longtime Patriots fan dating back to his childhood, but he also played for Vrabel when he was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
Because of salary cap implications, no deal for Brown will likely be done until after June 1 — if it gets done at all — when his dead cap number for the Patriots in 2026 would go from $44 million to $20 million.
Pats Super Bowl MVP Teased A.J. Brown Trade
Former Patriots wide receiver and Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman teased a possible Brown trade promoting his podcast earlier this month with a post on X that read “WE ARE ALL PATRIOTS” superimposed on a GIF of Edelman and Brown.
It was all part of a bizarre week in which Brown disclosed he cried watching the Patriots lose to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII in 1 of the greatest upsets in sports history. The Patriots were trying to close out just the 2nd undefeated season in NFL history.
Brown, who is from Starkville, Mississippi, would have been just 10 years old when the game was played.
“AJ Brown played in 2 Super Bowls with the Eagles winning 1 of them and he still said his most memorable game was watching the Patriots lose as a kid … this dude really gonna retire in Foxborough lmaoo,” Eagles fan Slimm wrote on his official X account.
One recent NFL trade may have given us an indication of what Brown’s asking price might be after the Denver Broncos sent their 2026 1st round pick and 2026 3rd round pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle — a deal the Eagles would almost certainly want to eclipse in terms of compensation for Brown.
Eagles and Patriots Have NFL ‘Buzzing’ Over Possible Offseason Move