Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne was a big part of the Patriots offense in 2021 as he posted 55 catches for 800 yards and five touchdowns after joining the team as a free agent.

The first game of Bourne’s 2022 season saw him playing a very different role. Bourne did not get on the field until the fourth quarter and wound up catching a 41-yard pass from Mac Jones on one of the two snaps he played in the 20-7 loss to Miami.

After the game, head coach Bill Belichick said “it just worked out that way” when asked about Bourne’s lack of playing time and that he wasn’t benched as a disciplinary matter. On WEEI Monday, Belichick reiterated that and said “it wasn’t anything that was specifically avoided.” Quarterback Mac Jones also addressed Bourne’s situation in his Monday press conference.

“KB has to control what he can control and when he gets the chance to play or practice, just like we all do, we have to try and do our best that we can,” Jones said. “He just has to continue to be himself. He’s done a good job. He’s a great teammate, and we have a lot of guys on our team like that. I hope he can contribute more, and he will, and his time will come. Like I always say, the plays will come, don’t chase them. He’ll get a chance and when he does, I have confidence in him. He’s a great route runner, great competitor. He’s just got to do what he’s doing and continue to see his role increase.”

Given the way the Patriots offense played on Sunday, one would imagine they’d be open to just about anything that leads to better production. Bourne’s brief flash on Sunday suggests he could provide some, so we’ll see if he gets a longer look against the Steelers.

Sounds like BB’s is placing his ego ahead of what’s best for the team again….

Mac should be worried about playing better himself of he will find himself on the bench

They probably confused him with Jason Bourne.

They really miss having an offensive coordinator. It sounds like no-one has a clue. Maybe they’ll send the long snapper out on a pass route next week.

Good ‘ol inscrutable Belichick. Signs a free agent who gets 55 catches one year and the next year you forget he’s on the team. With that offense?

That’s why Mac’s teammates love him. When Bourne got on the field Mac got him the ball. Bourne appreciates that fact.

Week 1 is in the books.

One 2nd year QB outplayed Mac, four didn’t. His won-loss record is the same as Rogers, Wilson, Burrow, Prescott, and Carr.

Let’s see how week 2 goes.

He’s literally their best offensive player, so why use him? Let’s wait ’til the team is 0-4 and then ease him into the action.

Belichick can overthink sometimes. Just play your best players !!

nhpats2011 says: September 13, 2022 at 6:47 am Sounds like BB’s is placing his ego ahead of what’s best for the team again….

Do you know what happened in the offseason? The keep both good and bad out of the media so he may have done bad in camp, asked for more money, who knows.

eagleswin says: September 13, 2022 at 7:28 am They really miss having an offensive coordinator. It sounds like no-one has a clue. Maybe they’ll send the long snapper out on a pass route next week.

Josh will be back in 2-3 yrs. This is just a transition until he is back 😛

In 3 years Noodles and Belacheat will both be gone..

Sure it will just like NKeal Harry….right?

Gotta love the guys comparing Bad-back-Mac to Rodgers, Wilson, Carr etc. At least the glass is half-full, right Pats fans?

Grant 35, what I wrote was a fact. Interesting that people knocking guys like Mac want to deny facts.

Maybe Mac doesn’t pan out long term but his first year was auspicious. I think he’s earned a start next week if healthy.

The offense lacks speed. They need Tyquan Thornton more than Kendrick Bourne.

Cole Strange also had a great game! But of course the media won’t talk about it.

BB even decided to give him personal lessons on the sideline starting in the second quarter and for the rest of the game.

And you people wouldn’t give him credit for drafting another GEM in the first round!

Cole Strange also had a great game! But of course the media won’t talk about it. ______________ You didn’t see the game.

Wilson, (334 years old) 7 years @ approximately $300MM

Mac Jones average annual contract is $4MM.

It’s been obvious since pre-season: Kendrick Bourne Is in BB’s dog house. Simple as that.

The qb annual salary is a great list. And if you asked experts, media, fans to rank those qbs on who will win a sb Mac alone would also be on rhe bottom of that list.

Mac is an average qb. Nothing special. Pats will be in constant mediocrity with him, worst place to be.

bawlzich says: September 13, 2022 at 2:59 pm Cole Strange also had a great game! But of course the media won’t talk about it. ______________ You didn’t see the game. ———————— Cole was benched in the second quarter after giving up a strip sack of Mac! Talk about having a “great game!”

What does money have to do with this?

Are you purposely lying or do you know nothing about football?

The strip sack of Mac Jones came off tackle. The only three Patriots players potentially responsible for the sack were Mac for not identifying the blitz in advance, Hunter Henry (lined up off tackle) for not seeing the blitz and at least chipping him, or Trent Brown (the left tackle who missed the blitz pickup). Or, all of the above. It wasn’t on the left guard, Strange.

Mac is an average qb. Nothing special. Pats will be in constant mediocrity with him, worst place to be.

True but Brady was nothing special early on too. Fortunately for Brady he came into the league when teams could win SB with a great defense and mediocre offense. With the rule changes, that’s not the case anymore. Mac will need to dramatically improve fast or the Patriots will move on.

What does money have to do with the NFL?

It’s not incidental that Belichick dominated two decades of the salary cap era of the NFL and no other team could win back to back super bowls during that period. Even with Brady, the team was prudent in amount of salary and length of contract. They never went “all in”, desperate to win.

The contracts I point out above are all desperate. These guys are not Mahomes and Allen. It worked with Stafford but that’s likely one and done.

How desperate are owners to win a super bowl? Just watch video of Jerry Jones (who actually has win super boels in another lifetime) or Arthur Blank on the sidelines expecting to beat the Patriots and watching his victory evaporate.

I don’t begrudge what these guys make (many PFT posters do) but high priced lengthy contracts are risky. Belichick mitigates risk whether you want to admit its advantages or not.

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