With the rumors running rampant of current Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones being finished in Atlanta, Nashville is one of the potential landing spots for the seven-time Pro Bowl selection.
One of the most vocal in recruiting Jones to join forces with him is Titans receiver, A.J. Brown. Brown has taken to social media almost daily pleading with his idol Jones to come to Tennessee. So the most fitting topic for this week’s Titans Throwback is a look back at Brown’s breakout game as a rookie against none other than the Falcons and his idol.
Julio to Tennessee now! pic.twitter.com/ixZNV7fApB
— AJ Brown (@1kalwaysopen_) May 26, 2021
It was Week 4 in 2019, the same year the Titans selected Brown with their second-round pick out of Ole Miss. While he made some big plays in his first three games, with the guy he looked up to for years watching on the opposing sideline, this game was the one that put the league on notice.
Brown had three catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns against the Falcons, on that Sunday afternoon. He scored on a 55-yard catch after making a catch in the middle of the field and put his 4.49 40-yard dash speed to work as he raced past defenders. Brown also had an 11-yard touchdown catch in the game. That score gave the Titans a lead they never relinquished. Tennessee won 24-10
Mariota fakes the handoff and zips the pass to AJ Brown, who outruns the Falcons defense for a 55-yard touchdown. Way to stay in bounds rookie #TENvsATL pic.twitter.com/sbYrSfh7w3
— Justin Graver (@titansfilmroom) September 29, 2019
It’s Not Every Day you get to Meet your Idol
Brown left Mercedes-Benz Stadium that afternoon with a pair of No.11 jerseys. His own, and one belonging to Falcons receiver Jones, his idol.
After the game, Brown credited his teammates including quarterback Marcus Mariota to fellow receiver Corey Davis.
He also showed respect for Jones, who Brown said he models his game after. The two players talked after the game and swapped jerseys. Brown said he picked No.11 in the NFL because of Jones. The same jersey number he said he would relinquish if Jones were to come to Nashville.
“That’s my big bro,” Brown told Titans insider Jim Wyatt after the game, of Jones. “He taught me everything I know, and he doesn’t even know it. I think so much of how he plays. I was watching him today, trying to steal something to put in my bag. He is a great one and one day I want to be like him. I want to be better than him.” “I want to make that the standard,” Brown added. “I tell myself I haven’t done anything yet. I have to keep my head down and keep working.”
It was also in that game that Jones reached a significant milestone. He became the fastest receiver to reach 11,000 receiving yards for his career.
“Julio told me just keep playing, keep balling, keep getting open,” Brown said. “He said, “Don’t let it be just one week, be consistent. You have to be reliable in this league. It means the world to me, talking to him.”
And Brown has done just that since. He proved he wasn’t just a one-game wonder. As he has quickly become Ryan Tannehill‘s favorite target. He has also cemented his name in the conversation among the league’s top pass catchers. This is evident in most team highlights week-to-week feature running back Derrick Henry, Tannehill, and Brown.
He also puts the team first. After last season, he had played through not one, but both knees that were less than a hundred percent.
After just two seasons in the NFL, he has been emphatic that he hopes to be a Titan for life. The addition of Jones may put a wrench in that plan ultimately, especially when Brown’s rookie contract and its fifth-year option are up for debate after the 2022 season. But the combination of the two may lead to Brown lowering his price for wins and potential late January and early February games.
In any case, with or without Jones, Brown is one of those players who is well worth the price of admission to a Titans game.
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @ptsportstalk
Follow Joe Heller on Twitter @JerseyJoe317
Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
One Response