PHILADELPHIA — A.J. Brown had a novel concept to cross time on the bench throughout Philadelphia’s wild-card playoff sport.
The Eagles huge receiver handed on the playbook and checked out an inspirational title — Brown casually ignored the motion on the sector and flipped by means of the pages of “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy.
Brown had time for some gentle studying with just one catch for 10 yards in a 22-10 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night time.
The ebook is described on the duvet as one that may “Train your thoughts for extraordinary efficiency and the very best life.”
Brown mentioned he typically reads on the sideline however added: “Y’all caught me that point.”
Brown, who had 67 catches for 1,079 yards and 7 touchdowns this season, described the teachings within the ebook as helpful as a result of soccer is “90% psychological and 10% bodily for me.”
“If I rating a landing or drop a cross, it’s one thing how I refocus,” Brown mentioned. “I all the time revert again to the start of the ebook. It states should you can simply have a transparent thoughts and keep in mind that nothing else issues, clear conscience, nothing issues damaging or optimistic. You’re prepared to take dangers. It additionally says should you’re humble, you’ll be able to’t be embarrassed.”
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Murphy’s bio on his web site says he’s a former minor league outfielder and a psychological abilities coach to skilled athletes. Murphy mentioned he labored with one other Eagles participant who really helpful the ebook to Brown.
Murphy informed The Associated Press he was watching a replay of the Orange Bowl between Penn State and Notre Dame when his cellphone began blowing up with texts that his ebook made a cameo on an NFL playoff sport.
“That’s fairly distinctive to learn it in the course of the sport,” Murphy mentioned by cellphone from Dallas. “I noticed that he was studying it on the sidelines earlier than. I noticed an image of it. I although, oh, that’s actually cool, I by no means had an athlete within the sport learn it.”
“Inner Excellence” was the ebook of alternative for Brown and perhaps the remainder of the Eagles.
A greater story for the Birds on Sunday: Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and one of many NFL’s stingiest defenses securing one other house playoff sport in a season they hope comes with a contented ending — a Super Bowl win.
“I’m simply going to remain free, play free,” Brown mentioned.
Brown later shared a photograph of the ebook on social media with a number of passages highlighted in yellow.
“I’ve by no means seen him learn. I’ve seen the ebook in his arms,” Hurts mentioned. “Everybody has a unique factor and finds their movement in several methods. That’s how we select to do it.”
The subsequent chapter? The NFC East champion Eagles host a divisional spherical sport subsequent Sunday on the Linc towards the winner of the sport Monday night time between Minnesota and the Los Angeles Rams.
