USA Today
BREAKING: Eagles Release Linebacker Zach Brown
The Eagles have had enough of the Zach Brown experience and released the veteran linebacker Monday evening.
Brown took a verbal shot at Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins on Friday, two days before the Eagles traveled to Minnesota for Sunday’s game.
“I think every defense is going to want (Cousins) to throw the ball,” said Brown, who spent his previous two seasons before joining the Eagles in Washington with Cousins as his teammate.
“For me (Cousins is) the weakest part of their offense. They have a good running game, probably the best in the league. They have real good receivers. You want Kirk Cousins to have the ball in his hands. You just want him to pass the ball. I realized in Washington, he was kind of careless with the ball, but at the same time, hey, you make the bed you sleep in.”
Cousins got his revenge on the field, throwing for 333 yards and a career-tying four touchdowns in a 38-20 win over the Eagles.
Brown, who will turn 30 in Oct. 23, refused to take any questions about the game Cousins played in the postgame locker room.
Like every member of the Eagles’ defense, Brown struggled, but made five tackles against the Vikings.
His time with the Eagles began in the offseason, weeks after free agency began. The Eagles, who signed him to a one-year deal, were Browns’ fourth team since entering the league in 2012 with the Tennessee Titans. He also played for the Buffalo Bills and his previous two seasons were with the Washington Redskins.
His career with the Eagles ends with 27 tackles, including three tackles for loss.
Brown’s play at times was undisciplined. He was hit with 30 yards worth of penalties against the Packers, one flag for unnecessary roughness, another for a face mask.
Still, his sudden release can be considered somewhat of a surprise since the Eagles could be without linebacker Nigel Bradham when they play the Dallas Cowboys for first place in the NFC East on Sunday night.
Bradham was seen in a walking boot after the loss to the Vikings with what is believed to be an ankle injury.
Head coach Doug Pederson said on Monday that Bradham’s initial test reports will be sent to another doctor for a second opinion.
With the potential loss of Bradham and the release of Brown, the Eagles are left with linebackers Nathan Gerry, Kamu Gurgier-Hill, Duke Riley, and undrafted rookie free agent T.J. Edwards.
