The postseason can be a stressful time for NFL players, who are tasked with taking on their sport’s finest in the hopes of capturing the most decadent of prizes, the Lombardi Trophy.
There are myriad ways to handle that pressure. Some dance and shake their bodies to let loose; others meditate, hoping to find their purpose in a chamber of self-reflection.
During the Eagles’ wild-card matchup with the Packers on Sunday, star wideout A.J. Brown took on a different approach. While sitting on the sidelines in the fourth quarter, Brown took out his proverbial reading glasses, pulled out a leafy tablet, and got to reading.
Cameras caught the former All-Pro wideout embracing the power of a good book in the midst of battle. Social media was unsurprisingly captivated by Brown’s exploits, as some praised the Ole Miss alum for his ingenuity and appreciation of American literature, and others expressed frustration over such a gesture, particularly after Brown posted his worst stat line of the year.
AJ Brown started reading a book on the sideline in the middle of a playoff game. pic.twitter.com/jz6YuLBYZ1
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) January 13, 2025
But just what novel caught Brown’s interest? Here’s what you need to know.
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What book was A.J. Brown reading?
Brown was reading “Inner Excellence,” a self-help book written by Jim Murphy released in 2020. The book claims to be a blueprint for “athletes, entrepreneurs, single mothers of five” and everything in between, with Murphy — a former minor league baseball player in the Cubs farm system — offering “mental techniques based on the powerful principles of love, wisdom, and courage”.
BUY NOW: “Inner Excellence”, now available in paperback, kindle and audiobook
Murphy’s book appears to be a hit among athletes, particularly those involved in the world of golf; both PGA Tour standout Stewart Cink and PGA Tour coach Matt Killen offered an endorsement for Murphy’s work.
Contained within the book’s margins are tips to help readers:
- Develop self-mastery — and let go of what you can’t control
- Overcome anxiety — and build powerful mental habits
- Remove mental blocks — and get out of your own way
- Train your subconscious mind — and release limiting beliefs
Sunday wasn’t Brown’s first rodeo with Murphy’s opus. In fact, he’s brought the handbook to every one of his games this years, so much so that Brown’s Eagles teammates have given it a nickname: “The Recipe.”
“For me, this game is mental,” Brown said postgame. “I gotta make sure my mental good. It’s something like how I refresh every drive, regardless of if I score a touchdown or drop a pass, I always go back to that book every drive, just refocus.”
Brown also took to social media after the game to explain his emphasis on the mental side of the game, “This game is 90% mental and 10% physical for me. I bring it [Inner Excellence] to every game and I read it between each drive. I use it to refocus and lock in despite what may transpire in the game good or bad. People tend to create controversy when they don’t know the truth.”
It’s available to purchase for $10-$20 on Amazon.
A.J. Brown stats vs. Packers
Final score: Eagles 22, Packers 10
| Stat | Total |
| Targets | 3 |
| Receptions | 1 |
| Yards | 10 |
| Touchdowns | 0 |
In Philadelphia’s biggest game of the season (to date), Brown put forth his worst performance. He caught one pass from three targets, tallying 10 yards on Sunday night. By comparison, Jahan Dotson — who finished the regular season with 48 fewer catches, 860 fewer yards, and seven fewer touchdowns than Brown — recorded a catch and touchdown on two targets.
Now, there are plenty of reasons why Brown was held quiet. Jalen Hurts looked a bit rusty in his first game back from the concussion he suffered in Week 16 against the Commanders, particularly in the game’s early moments. Also, Brown was matched up with a secondary spearheaded by first-team All-Pro selectee Xavier McKinney.
“It didn’t show it on the stats but I did a lot today for my teammates, blocking and stuff,” Brown said. “It’s all good.”
Brown went on to say in his postgame interview that he was not frustrated with his performance or lack of targets, even chiding the press for asking the question.
A.J. Brown says he wasn’t frustrated at all reading the book: “Why y’all always think I’m frustrated?” pic.twitter.com/4fDbUkIeT1
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) January 13, 2025
Finally, he said he brings “Inner Excellence” with him to every game, even coming out of the tunnel with it at times despite no one noticing.
AJ Brown says he brings a book to every game to find peace pic.twitter.com/tz9GjnYB1a
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 13, 2025
There’s plenty of goodwill in the tank for Brown, one of the league’s most-gifted pass catchers. Despite dealing with injury and inconsistency at the QB position, Brown still averaged 83 yards per game, the fifth-best mark in the NFL.
Still, Sunday’s showing was certainly underwhelming. Brown will hope he can use Murphy’s tips to author up a better showing in Philadelphia’s divisional-round matchup.
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