FLORHAM PARK N.J. New York Jets Receiver Elijah MooreIn 2017, Ole Miss recruited him and changed his life. His player-host was supposed be DK MetcalfThey had to make an audible call when Metcalf was summoned by the football office for another matter. Moore was handed to the next man. A.J. BrownHe invited Moore to his home. Moore would save it many years later.
The first meeting involved a long car ride, dinner at Oxford’s restaurant, and a deep conversation that continued into the evening. It was casual and intimate, just as Moore preferred. Brown was a star junior wide-receiver and precocious freshman. He moved in with Brown months later.
Not the football kind of bond, but a life-long bond was created. Moore admits to being spoiled by his grandmother and mother. He believed that he needed to escape home to grow up. Moore learned how to wash clothes and change a tire, basically how to take care himself.
Moore, one the Jets’ top young players, said that Moore was able to see another man through it.
Brown said that Moore was his father. His energy, his mentality. He’ll make you see the meaning of my words if you’re with him. He lightens up the room.”
They spent one year at Ole Miss together, when Brown and Metcalf became professional in 2019, leaving Moore with the task of maintaining the school’s long receiver tradition. He did. They will again cross paths at Lincoln Financial Field Friday night, where Moore’s Jets meet Brown’s. Philadelphia Eagles Both teams will meet in the preseason opener.
In the City of Brotherly Love. So fitting.
Yes, Moore is correct. That close. They speak every day. They train together in offseason. Anyone who saw the viral video of Moore being drafted by the Jets second round in 2021 will know that their relationship is deep. It’s the one in the which Moore is congratulated by a Brown sobbing. This turns into a Hallmark moment.
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A.J. Brown becomes emotional after former Ole Miss teammate Elijah Moore is drafted to the Jets.
Moore says that they engage in these kinds of talks almost every day.
“I wouldn’t even consider it friendship. He called it “family.” It has substance because of the experiences we have shared and the conversations we have. This is someone who is connected with me in a way more than just… “He’s blood.”
Brown recalled what made him so emotional, “Just watching him grow and telling me his goals and aspirations and finally they came true.
Brown loved Moore at Ole Miss so much that he gave Moore a touchdown. Brown was called to play, but he refused and told Moore that he would go in for Brown. Moore scored. This is Bro Code’s highest form.
They come from so different backgrounds. Moore was raised in Fort Lauderdale and attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School. The school is a football powerhouse which has produced numerous NFL players including Moore. Joey Nick Bosa. He was not intimidated by the elite competition in South Florida, which is talent-rich.
Moore is confident, but not boastful. He is a highly accomplished, hardworking, and perfectionist. He is a positive person who inspires people to want to be with him. Brown, a Starkville kid, Mississippi boy, is the more quieter of them both. They have a sort of odd couple thing going on but it works.
Tevin Allen (a South Florida-based movement specialist in sports), said, “They lift each other up.” “When one falls, the other picks them up. It’s collaborative. They are brothers, and they are the best of friends.
Who did you win between Elijah & Me? @e_moore03 ??♂️? pic.twitter.com/EM7qfOosCA
— AJ Brown (@1kalwaysopen_) July 18, 2022
Brown, 25, was a second-round selection of the Tennessee Titans In 2019, hit the NFL jackpot, landing a four year, $100 million extension to his contract after being traded to Philadelphia Eagles on draft night. It was good but not always so. He was a victim of the November terrorist attacks. opened up about his experience with depressionHe also had thoughts about ending his own life. He gave Moore a public shout-out for his lightening of the darkest hours.
Brown said, recalling Moore’s support, “It wasn’t everything.” “I needed someone to talk to, someone to lean on, somebody I could trust. He is a talker. He loves to talk deeply. He is serious. Although he jokes about things, he is serious. He will talk for hours without stopping. Talking about life.
Moore deflected the credit, saying, “It wasn’t me that was speaking with him, it was God speaking through my.” “God does such things. He uses people to help him. If I can help my brother through something that he is thinking low about or having thoughts he shouldn’t have, then I would love to. “I’m glad that he was listening.”
Even in the rigors and stress of training camp, they still support each other. Allen stated, “They refuse let each other fold.” Moore can spill on Brown if he has a bad habit. Vice versa.
Brown stated, “He just reminds my that I’m powerful.” He said to me, “He just reminded me that I’m strong.” Brown added. You are strong enough to manage it. We can also talk about another thing. You’ve done this before. He just reminded us of that, reminding me that my faith and God are enough to get me through it.
Moore stated, “If I feel down in my life, I’m going call A.J.” We like the way he communicates.
Both knew about rumors that Brown might be traded to the Jets during the offseason. They kept up with the Twitter conversation and spoke about it occasionally. Moore feels that they are meant to be apart, as much as Moore would love to see them reunite.
Moore replied, “No, no, I didn’t tell him, ‘Come Here,’ because he should be his own person.”
Moore is ready for his breakout season after a promising, but injury-shortened rookie season. Moore believes he has the potential to be a WR1 player, as he proved from Week 8-12. He was eighth in receiving yards (882), sixth in receiving yards (682), and fourth in touchdown receptions (42). He was then hurt quadriceps and lost five of his last five games. He ended his rookie season with 43 receptions, 538 yards, and five touchdowns.
Miles Austin, Jets receivers coach said that Austin has a plan for himself. Austin also mentioned how Austin is thinking about how he wants to leave a legacy and how he would like it to be told about him. It’s a compliment that he has this present mindset but also a forward-thinking mindset.
Moore’s route running is a sight to behold, which he has perfected over many hours of training with Brown. Moore’s false acceleration is something that teammates are amazed at. It makes the defender believe he’s running at top speed. He can create separation by using this trick when he breaks his route.
“He puts his feet in the ground and comes back from breaks better than anyone else I’ve ever seen,” rookie receiver Garrett Wilson observed. “And the way that he attacks it with his hands — just grabbing it. It’s amazing.”
Brown is the best person to know this. He actually watched Moore’s highlights from high school before they met on campus. Moore did his research on Brown as well. Brown stated that he would bet his game checks on Moore winning Offensive Rookie. Brown gave Moore a boost in October when Moore was experiencing a slump.
Brown replied, “I told it was all mental.” Brown said that the next week, he went crazy and scored two touchdowns against Colts. He was amazed and I told him that you can do it every Sunday. You are holding yourself back. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to improve his chances and continue climbing.
They are big talkers when they are together. They discuss making All-Pro. They discuss the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This is not a new topic. This isn’t a new topic. They have been discussing it since their first day at Ole Miss. It was there that they met and changed their lives.
Report by Tim McManus (ESPN Eagles),