Less than 24 hours after being traded to the Patriots, A.J. Brown departed the New Balance Athletics Center and made his way up the conditioning hill to the team’s practice field on Tuesday.
Ahead of his first practice with the team he grew up cheering for, Brown made sure to soak in the moment.
“Just talking to my mom, I was like, ‘Man, I’m still in awe.’ I’m trying to adjust and walking up the hill with the uniform on, I was like, ‘Man, this is real,’” Brown said.
That feeling stuck with him even after the helmet came on and the football began.
“I caught myself one point in practice, wasn’t paying attention because I was like, ‘Dang, I’m a Patriot.’ Just trying to take it all in as much as I can. Obviously, I got back to work quickly. There’s levels to it, and as I said, I’m enjoying it.
“I know this ain’t heaven, but it’s close to it.”
Brown had long dreamed of that day he would suit up as a Patriot. He hoped it would come during the 2019 NFL Draft after he took a pre-draft visit to Gillette Stadium.
When the Patriots came on the clock with the 32nd overall pick, however, they selected wide receiver N’Keal Harry instead — a moment that left Brown in tears.
“That was a tough night. It was a tough night. I joked about it earlier. I said the Patriots have been breaking my heart over the years,” Brown said. “But that night, I was looking forward to getting picked, going in the first round. I was projected to be a first-round pick. You know, obviously things can go off another way, and the 32nd pick they took another receiver.
“As soon as the pick came in, I was already like in my car, leaving my draft party. I went back to my room and went in the closet, and just kind of tried to gather myself because I was just disappointed. Somewhere that I wanted to be. Obviously I wanted to play with Tom. So that didn’t happen. But everything happened for a reason.”
Now a Patriot seven years later, Brown got right to work on Tuesday participating in practice after passing his physical. As expected, the receiver took just a handful of full-team reps as he continues to acclimate to the new offense, but caught his first pass of the afternoon from Drake Maye.
For everyone involved, it was a reception that felt long overdue.
“To the fans, it’s time,” Brown said. “Better late than never.”
