‘Better late than never’: For A.J. Brown, trade to Patriots fulfills childhood dream Zack Cox, Boston Herald Jun 2, 2026 19 hrs ago 0 New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown during OTAs at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald/TNS) Matt Stone/Boston Herald/TNS Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Zack Cox, Boston Herald FOXBORO, Mass. — As he strolled out to the Gillette Stadium practice fields Tuesday, A.J. Brown paused, smiled and reflected.kAm$6G6? J62CD 27E6C 2 72E67F= 5C27E\52J 564:D:@? E92E =67E E96 H:56 C646:G6C :? E62CD[ qC@H? H2D 7:?2==J 23@FE E@ CF? C@FE6D :? 2 !2EC:@ED 96=>6E 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6] tG6? 27E6C >@?E9D @7 EC256 CF>@CD =:?<:?8 9:> E@ }6H t?8=2?5[ :E 2== 76=E DFCC62=]k^AmkAmp D9@CE H9:=6 =2E6C[ qC@H? 42F89E 9:>D6=7 52J5C62>:?8 5FC:?8 2 AC24E:46 5C:==[ DE:== :? 2H6 E92E 96 H2D ?@H A=2J:?8 7@C 9:D “49:=59@@5 E62>]”k^Am kAm“x H2D =:<6[ ‘|2?[ E9:D :D C62=[V ” qC@H?[ H9@> }6H t?8=2?5 24BF:C65 7C@> E96 !9:=256=A9:2 t28=6D :? 2 3=@4<3FDE6C EC256 @?6 52J 62C=:6C[ D2:5 :? 9:D :?EC@5F4E@CJ ?6HD 4@?76C6?46] “… ‘s2?8[ x’> 2 !2EC:@E]’ … ~3G:@FD=J[ x <?@H E9:D 2:?’E 962G6?[ 3FE :E’D 4=@D6 E@ :E]”k^Am People are also reading… Friday Five: Luxury apartments, skyrocketing home prices, shagging a restaurant and summer kids program Charlotte teen charged in Concord homicide, police say Former Hartsell School educators reunite to share memories Sun Drop murders suspect contacted by police nearly 300 times in last 15 years Arrest made in Sundrop murders case - suspect in Washington state Race is on to save 4,000 acres along Yadkin River. Alcoa selling off the land 32 Cabarrus nonprofits awarded $385,000 through Cannon family charitable trust Cabarrus County Agricultural Fair Board awards scholarships to local students Nearly 18 years later, arrest made in Concord’s Sun Drop murders Concord manager proposes $402.4 million budget with no property tax increase Cannon Ballers go back in time as the Kannapolis Towelers Botched Tennessee execution sparks US death row debate White Point partners with Liles family to recapitalize Gibson Mill in Concord Judge allows Trump to implement mail-in voting executive order 2026 historic district awards of excellence presented kAmqC@H? 8C6H FA 72C 7C@> u@I3@C@ :? $E2C<G:==6[ |:DD][ 3FE 9:D 4@FD:? H2D 2 !2EC:@ED 72?[ D@ 96 3642>6 @?6[ E@@] w6 :5@=:K65 %@> qC25J] p7E6C 2 DE2?5@FE 42C66C 2E ~=6 |:DD[ 96 9@A65 }6H t?8=2?5 H@F=5 5C27E 9:> H:E9 E96 7:?2= A:4< @7 E96 7:CDE C@F?5 :? a_`h]k^Am kAmqFE q:== q6=:49:4< 49@D6 }’z62= w2CCJ :?DE625[ 2C8F23=J E96 >@DE 8=2C:?8 @7 E96 =686?52CJ 9625 4@249’D D6C:6D @7 3@E4965 A:4<D :? E96 =2E6 a_`_D 2?5 62C=J a_a_D] qC@H? EF>3=65 E@ A:4< }@] d`[ H96C6 |:<6 'C236=’D %6??6DD66 %:E2?D D?2E4965 9:> FA]k^Am kAm“%92E H2D 2 E@F89 ?:89E[” qC@H? D2:5] “x ;@<65 23@FE :E 62C=:6Cj x D2:5 E96 !2EC:@ED 92G6 366? 3C62<:?8 >J 962CE @G6C E96 J62CD] qFE E92E ?:89E[ x H2D =@@<:?8 7@CH2C5 E@ 86EE:?8 A:4<65[ 8@:?8 :? E96 7:CDE C@F?5] x H2D AC@;64E65 2D 2 7:CDE\C@F?5 A:4<] ~3G:@FD=J[ E9:?8D 42? 8@ @77 2?@E96C H2J[ 2?5 2E E96 ba?5 A:4<[ E96J E@@< 2?@E96C C646:G6C]k^Am kAmQpD D@@? 2D E96 A:4< 42>6 :?[ x H2D 2=C625J :? >J 42C[ =62G:?8 >J 5C27E A2CEJ] x H6?E 324< E@ >J C@@>[ x H6?E :? E96 4=@D6E 2?5 ;FDE <:?5 @7 EC:65 E@ 82E96C >JD6=7] q642FD6 x H2D ;FDE 5:D2AA@:?E65] W}6H t?8=2?5 H2DX H96C6 x H2?E65 E@ 36] ~3G:@FD=J[ x H2?E65 E@ A=2J H:E9 %@>[ 2?5 E92E 5:5?’E 92AA6?] qFE 6G6CJE9:?8 92AA6?D 7@C 2 C62D@?]”k^AmkAm(6’== ?6G6C <?@H H96E96C 49@@D:?8 qC@H?[ 2 E9C66\E:>6 D64@?5\E62> p==\!C@[ @G6C w2CCJ[ H9@’D ?@H @FE @7 E96 =628F6[ >:89E 92G6 6IE6?565 E96 E6?FC6D @7 qC25J @C q6=:49:4<] qFE 'C236= :D 9@A:?8 9:D 2CC:G2= 42? 7FCE96C 6=6G2E6 E96 A6C7@C>2?46 @7 =2DE D62D@?’D }u{ |'! CF??6C\FA[ sC2<6 |2J6[ 2?5 E96 @776?D6 2C@F?5 9:>]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm%96 3:8\3@5:65 ag\J62C\@=5 92D 366? @?6 @7 E96 }u{’D E@A A2DD\42E496CD D:?46 96 6?E6C65 E96 =628F6[ E@AA:?8 `[___ J2C5D :? D:I @7 9:D D6G6? D62D@?D 24C@DD DE:?ED H:E9 %6??6DD66 2?5 !9:=256=A9:2] w6 H2D E96 }@] ` C646:G6C @? 2? t28=6D E62> E92E C624965 324<\E@\324< $FA6C q@H=D 2?5 H@? :E 2== :? a_ac[ 2?5 96’D 6IA64E65 E@ 7:== E92E D2>6 C@=6 7@C }6H t?8=2?5[ E@AA:?8 2 56AE9 492CE E92E 4FCC6?E=J 762EFC6D 7C66\286?E D:8?66 #@>6@ s@F3D[ |24< w@==:?D[ z2JD9@? q@FEE6[ zJ=6 (:==:2>D[ s6|2C:@ s@F8=2D[ t7E@? r9:D> xxx 2?5 2 92?57F= @7 F?5C27E65 C@@<:6D]k^Am kAm{62C?:?8 @776?D:G6 4@@C5:?2E@C y@D9 |4s2?:6=D’ DJDE6> 2?5 56G6=@A:?8 496>:DECJ H:E9 |2J6 H:== E2<6 E:>6[ 3FE qC@H? D2:5 96 H2D :>>65:2E6=J :>AC6DD65 3J E96 E9:C5\J62C BF2CE6C324<’D A@:D6 @? E96 7:6=5 2?5 4@>>2?5 :? E96 >66E:?8 C@@>] pD<65 H92E 6I4:E6D 9:> 23@FE A=2J:?8 H:E9 |2J6 — H9@D6 566A\32== 23:=:EJ 2?5 67764E:G6?6DD 282:?DE >2? 4@G6C286 D9@F=5 >6D9 H6== H:E9 qC@H?’D D<:== D6E — qC@H? C6A=:65i “tG6CJE9:?8]”k^Am kAm%96 !2EC:@ED H@C<65 qC@H? :? D=@H=J :? 9:D 563FE AC24E:46[ 8:G:?8 9:> ;FDE 2 92?57F= @7 C6AD :? 4@>A6E:E:G6 ``\@?\`` 5C:==D] w6 42F89E @?6 A2DD 5FC:?8 E96 ?@?\A25565 D6DD:@?[ @? 2 9:E49 C@FE6 282:?DE C@@<:6 4@C?6C324< z2C@? !CF?EJ] qC@H? H@C6 }@] `[ H9:49 96 49@D6 @G6C E96 }@] `` 96 DA@CE65 2E 9:D AC6G:@FD }u{ DE@AD 2D 2 D:8? @7 C6DA64E E@ yF=:2? t56=>2?]k^Am kAm“x’> 4C62E:?8 >J @H? =6824J 96C6 2?5 ;FDE 86EE:?8 324< E@ >J C@@ED[” D2:5 qC@H?[ H9@ ?@E65 E92E 96 H@C6 }@] ` 2E ~=6 |:DD 2?5 :? 9:89 D49@@=]k^AmkAmw6 2=D@ H2?ED E@ 82:? E96 C6DA64E @7 }6H t?8=2?5’D A=2J6CD[ D6G6C2= @7 H9@> C2G65 23@FE 9:D E2=6?ED 6G6? 367@C6 E96 =@?8\CF>@C65 EC256 H2D 7:?2=:K65 @? |@?52J] qC@H? D2:5 E96 >6>36CD @7 E96 4@249:?8 DE277 2D<65 9:> E@ =625 2 DEC6E49:?8 =:?6 5FC:?8 AC24E:46[ 3FE 96 564=:?65[ D2J:?8 96’D “8@E E@ 62C? E92E]”k^Am kAmqC@H? D:56DE6AA65 2 BF6DE:@? 23@FE E96 :?E6C?2= 5JD7F?4E:@? E92E =65 E@ 9:D 6I:E 7C@> !9:==J[ H9:49 :?4=F565 4@>A=2:?ED 23@FE E96 t28=6D’ @776?D6 2?5 2 D@FC65 C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 t28=6D "q y2=6? wFCED] w6 2=D@ 5@H?A=2J65 4@?46C?D 23@FE 9:D <?66]k^Am kAm%96 !2EC:@ED 76=E 4@?7:56?E 6?@F89 :? 9:D 962=E9 E@ EC256 2 a_ag 7:CDE\C@F?5 A:4< 2?5 2 a_af 7:7E9\C@F?56C E@ 24BF:C6 9:>[ 2?5 qC@H?[ H9@ >:DD65 EH@ 82>6D =2DE D62D@? 2?5 7@FC :? a_ac[ A2DD65 9:D A9JD:42=]k^AmkAm“}@ :?;FCJ[ ?@E9:?8 E@ H@CCJ 23@FE[” qC@H? D2:5] “… |2J36 :? 7@FC J62CD[ x’G6 >:DD65 @?6 82>6 7C@> 2 D9@E E@ E96 <?66[ D@ E92E’D ?@E9:?8 E@ H@CCJ 23@FE] x’> 8@@5] x’> C625J E@ 8@]”k^Am kAm'C236=[ |4s2?:6=D 2?5 !2EC:@ED H:56 C646:G6CD 4@249 %@55 s@H?:?8 2== 6IAC6DD65 6I4:E6>6?E 23@FE qC@H?’D 2CC:G2=] |4s2?:6=D 4@>A2C65 9:D C2C6 A9JD:42=:EJ 2D 2 A2DD\42E496C E@ #@3 vC@?<@HD<:’D] s@H?:?8[ H9@ 2=D@ 4@24965 qC@H? :? %6??6DD66[ C2G65 23@FE 9:D 4@>A6E:E:G6?6DD 2?5 7@@E32== x"[ 2?5 D2:5 96 92D “?@ 4@?46C?D” 23@FE qC@H? 7:EE:?8 :? A6CD@?2=:EJ\H:D6 H:E9:? }6H t?8=2?5’D C646:G6C C@@>]k^Am kAmp== E9C66 36=:6G6 255:?8 qC@H? H:== =:7E 2? @776?D6 E92E 92D?’E 762EFC65 2 H:56@FE @7 9:D 42=:36C :? J62CD] qC@H? 42?’E H2:E]k^AmkAm“%@ E96 72?Di xE’D E:>6[” 96 D2:5] “q6EE6C =2E6 E92? ?6G6C] (6’C6 C:89E @? E:>6] x’> D@ 6I4:E65]”k^Am 0 Comments Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Adelman dies at 79 Rick Adelman, who coached his teams to more than 1,000 wins in a Naismith Hall of Fame career, has died at 79, the National Basketball Coaches… Doctor explains the complication that made Kyle Busch’s illness deadly Kyle Busch won a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race one week before he died. He was 41 years old, by all appearances healthy, and then he was … Hurricanes finish off Canadians in Game 5 of East Final, will face Vegas for Stanley Cup Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven each had two goals and an assist, Frederik Andersen stopped 23 shots, and the Hurricanes defeated the Canadian… Kyle Busch death certificate reveals new details on driver's cause of death Busch's death certificate revealed that he had been battling bacterial pneumonia for “days to weeks” before he died May 21 of natural causes. NBA approves new draft lottery system to combat tanking: What it means The NBA voted to approve a new draft lottery system designed to eliminate incentives for teams to tank during the regular season, the league a… Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video 'We found a way tonight' - Tortorella on Vegas' win in epic Stanley Cup Final opener. Celine Boutier grants child's wish, wins 2026 ShopRite LPGA Celine Boutier grants child's wish, wins 2026 ShopRite LPGA Serena Williams makes her tennis return after nearly four years Serena Williams makes her tennis return after nearly four years Top 10 Clutch Moments In Super Bowl History | #superbowl Top 10 Clutch Moments In Super Bowl History | #superbowl
Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Adelman dies at 79 Rick Adelman, who coached his teams to more than 1,000 wins in a Naismith Hall of Fame career, has died at 79, the National Basketball Coaches…
Doctor explains the complication that made Kyle Busch’s illness deadly Kyle Busch won a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race one week before he died. He was 41 years old, by all appearances healthy, and then he was …
Hurricanes finish off Canadians in Game 5 of East Final, will face Vegas for Stanley Cup Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven each had two goals and an assist, Frederik Andersen stopped 23 shots, and the Hurricanes defeated the Canadian…
Kyle Busch death certificate reveals new details on driver's cause of death Busch's death certificate revealed that he had been battling bacterial pneumonia for “days to weeks” before he died May 21 of natural causes.
NBA approves new draft lottery system to combat tanking: What it means The NBA voted to approve a new draft lottery system designed to eliminate incentives for teams to tank during the regular season, the league a…