Mike Florio Says Patriots Overpaid For A.J. Brown To Avoid Tampering Case

Mike Florio Says Patriots Overpaid For A.J. Brown To Avoid Tampering Case originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

>Pro Football Talk's lead insider and analyst, Mike Florio, had an interesting take on the trade that sent A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots from the Philadelphia Eagles.

>"This was one of the worst-kept secrets we've ever seen as it relates to a trade," Florio said. "There's still that lingering question on if the Patriots gave up too much because what the hell else were the Eagles going to do?

>"There's no way they were going to bring A.J. Brown back, and there was no one else standing in line for him."

>I don't have the sources that the very well-connected Mike Florio does, but I find it hard to believe that there weren't any other teams interested in trading for Brown. Looking around the AFC East, I see at least two other teams that have room on the depth chart and space in the payroll.

>Regardless, Florio is certain that New England overpaid for Brown.

>"Getting the deal done helped turn the page on the Mike Vrabel Dianna Russini situation," Florio said. "There were a lot of Eagles fans that were raising the question of tampering and whether and to what extent there was collusion between Vrabel and Russini...

>"I'm just wondering whether or not the Patriots were willing to overpay a bit to not get themselves into a tampering jackpot. We don't know, but it would explain the willingness when you don't have to give up a one and a five for a guy that the Eagles aren't going to keep!"

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>I haven't seen many people across the football world accusing the Patriots of overpaying for the three-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion, but Florio presents the idea like a fact. While what he is saying makes sense at face value, I'm not sure this trade plays out any differently if the Russini story didn't happen.

>Brown was never going to bring in two firsts, or a first and a second, or only a second. His value was always a first-round pick and some change.

>Additionally, I'm not sure that the Patriots wouldn't have been happily willing to cough up a first-round pick and a fifth-round pick regardless of their standing in the league's eyes.

>It feels like Florio is coming up with an explanation for an overpay that did not take place.

>More NFL: A.J. Brown Speaks On Signed Photo Left At Eagles Facility Following Patriots Trade