FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — A.J. Brown’s abrupt walk-off after a Patriots news conference this week drew immediate comparisons to a similar moment nearly two decades ago involving Randy Moss, when Moss arrived in New England seeking a fresh start.
On the final day of the 2007 NFL draft, reporters gathered around a speaker phone in the Gillette Stadium press box to speak with Moss after a trade to the Patriots. He closed the call by saying, “The Moss of old is back,” trailing off before reporters expected, a moment that became emblematic of his return.
This past Tuesday in the New Balance Athletics Center media room, Brown finished his first Patriots practice and, when asked how much he believes he has left in the tank, tapped both hands on the dais, smiled and said, “You’ll see,” before walking off. The report notes both arrived in New England at similar points in their careers: Moss entering his 10th season and Brown his eighth.
The comparison in the report centers on motivation and opportunity rather than identical talent. In 2007 Moss had questions about whether he was still the same player after averaging 13.2 yards per catch, and he had been nagged by injuries including a groin problem. The piece highlights that Brown averaged 12.9 yards per catch in 2025, the lowest mark of his career, and that questions about the long-term health of his knee have been a topic of discussion.
Moss responded with an epic first season in New England, finishing with 98 catches for 1,493 yards and an NFL-record 23 touchdowns. Brown joins the Patriots with Josh McDaniels again as offensive coordinator; McDaniels referenced Moss when discussing the work it took to acclimate a veteran receiver, saying, “I don’t know if we could complete a pass at the time,” and added that the same sort of work is underway with Brown. The report also notes coach Mike Vrabel moved mandatory minicamp to June 9-11 as the team prepares for a Sept. 9 season opener, and names cornerback Christian Gonzalez and receiver Kayshon Boutte as notable camp storylines, with it unlikely either will miss camp.
