Jaylen Brown Makes Candid Admission After Celtics Win
The Boston Celtics ended Tuesday with a winning record for the first time this season. Joe Mazzulla’s team overcame the Brooklyn Nets to secure a 113-99 victory, which was their eighth of the season.
Interestingly, Jaylen Brown only saw 10 minutes of playing time during the first half. When speaking to the media after the game, the All-Star forward was highly critical of his performance.
“I was just playing like s–t in the first half,” Brown said. “Turning the ball over. So it just took a minute for me to figure it out, but I kind of picked it up to close the game. But I’ve got to come out to a better start in the first half, especially in the first quarter, because the team kind of feeds off me, I know that; so I’ve got to be better, and Joe’s just holding me to a higher standard.”
Brown struggled to take care of the ball against Brooklyn, ending the night with eight turnovers. However, he found his scoring touch in the third quarter, which gave Boston a platform to push forward and secure a win.
With Jayson Tatum absent from the rotation due to an Achilles injury, Brown is shouldering a heavy load his season. Unfortunately for him, that means poor performances will be amplified, mainly if the rest of the team follows suit.
Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla Explains Brown’s Minutes
Throughout the opening weeks of the season, Joe Mazzulla has experimented with different lineups, rotations and minutes distribution. And, while the power forward position has been a specific position of focus, it’s clear that he’s also willing to make changes on the fly.
When addressing the media after the game, Mazzulla explained why Brown’s first-half minutes were limited before praising his overall impact on the game.
“He played well,” Mazzulla said, via CLNS Media.
Brown certainly responded to Mazzulla’s coaching during the second half. He will likely look to carry that production into Friday, when the Celtics will face the Nets for the second straight game.
Jaylen Brown Advocated For Jordan Walsh
A recent trend for the Celtics has been the increased playing time Jordan Walsh has received. The third-year forward has been impressive since sliding into the starting lineup, providing defense and athleticism.
On Tuesday, Walsh revealed that Brown has been advocating for his additional minutes behind the scenes.
“We were talking about how he felt like we needed a player who can go in and guard the best player every night, and he said I think it could be you,” Walsh said.
Jordan Walsh said Jaylen Brown advocated for him to start playing more: “We were talking about how he felt like we needed a player who can go in and guard the best player every night, and he said I think it could be you.”
– @CLNSMedia | Q: @tvabby @NoaDalzell
Brown has emerged as a genuine leader for Boston this season, both on the court and in the locker room. That evolution will continue to pay dividends, both this season and as the team rebuilds itself back into contention.
Ex-Saints WR Linked To Steelers After Shocking Release
The New Orleans Saints are one of the worst teams in the league this season and they took a few steps toward their rebuild at the trade deadline.
This week, they took another step toward that rebuild. The Saints opted to cut ties with veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks in an attempt to save a bit of money. Cooks is able to sign a deal with any team in the league at this point.
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Bleacher Report's Adam Wells recently suggested the Pittsburgh Steelers could be a potential fit for Cooks in free agency for the rest of the season. The Steelers notably whiffed on other top wide receivers at the trade deadline.
Sep 7, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) is tackled by the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
"After being mentioned as a potential trade candidate earlier this month, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks will be able to pick his next destination for the remainder of the season," Wells wrote. "For teams seeking help at wide receiver for the stretch run, Cooks immediately becomes a viable option as soon as he hits the free-agent market. Some of the playoff contenders with an obvious need at wideout include the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers.
"The Steelers were all over the receiver market prior to the Nov. 4 deadline, but were unable to make a deal. They reportedly made offers to the Saints for Shaheed and Las Vegas Raiders for Jakobi Meyers that were both turned down. DK Metcalf has been exactly what Pittsburgh wanted when he was acquired from the Seattle Seahawks in the offseason. No other pass-catcher on the Steelers has more than 300 receiving yards entering Week 12."
The Steelers need one more wide receiver for the stretch run of the season. They would have been a perfect fit for Rashid Shaheed at the trade deadline, but they whiffed on him.
Now, adding Cooks would be the perfect fit. He's not going to be a superstar if he signs with the Steelers, but he would fill a valuable role in the team's offense.
The move would be affordable and easy to make. There's very low risk to it, but potentially a decent amount of reward if he plays well.
