Patriots Notebook: Free agent receiver is Bourne again
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots spending spree last offseason has had several payoffs.
But one of the biggest may be wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, who was with the San Francisco 49ers last year. Bourne is second on the team in catches with 42 but leads it in receiving yards with 623, and is second with five TDs, including two in Sunday’s 36-13 win over the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium.
He is defintely been a huge addition, improving with his yards after catch.
“I’m totally different,” he said after the win. “When I first came in in, I was swinging the ball everywhere, kind of playing my style of play, and (Belichick) corrected it fast. He taught me to keep the ball high and itght at all times and eventually my body just started adjusting to keeping the ball right here.”
Bourne turned a short pass from QB Mac Jones into a 41-yard TD, zipping down the right sideline while getting a key block from fellow receiver Jakobi Meyers.
“That was what made the whole play,” Bourne said. “He’s been doing that his whole career, blocking really well, and he caught a really good block right there. Giving that hextra effort he gave really spurred me.”
Not that Bourne needs much of a spark.
“KB is like the energizer bunny, man,” Patriots center David Andrews said. “I think he’s like a Labrador. Golden Retriever-like. I’ve had those dogs before. They’re just always happy, you know?Even when you kind of correct them or get on them, they’re just like ‘Alright. Yeah. Yeah. I’ll get it done.’
“KB’s been awesome. Love havng to work with him. Been a lot fun to play with.”
MIRROR IMAGE
Patriots safety Devin McCourty had an interesting view of the New England-Tennessee rivalry and what took place on Sunday.
“It was just a gritty win,” he said. “I think Tennessee is very similar to us. They don’t care who isn’t playing for them. They have a style of play, they’re tough, they’re going to fight you for everything.
“I think obviously with Mike Vrabel being there it is just a very similar team as how we’re built and I think that’s how the game played out. Just a battle.”
TITANS LIMP INTO BYE
The bye week couldn’t come at a better time for Tennessee, now 8-4, as they limp into the break.
“We’ve lost two games in a row,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. “We lost two games in a row. We lost at home. Came on the road and played very competitively for the first half. … Obviously, the way that the game went in the second half, a lot of these guys have been grinding through, pushing through. It has a lot to do with mental health of dealing with injuries and dealing with things. This is a good time for us all to reset and focus on this football team and getting healthy in all aspects.”
GAME INACTIVES
There were no surprises on the Patriots side with regard to inactives, as out were QB Jarrett Stidham, running back J.J. Taylor, linebacker Ronnie Perkins, offensive lineman Yasir Durant and second year tight end Devin Asiasi.
The Titans, of course, with their injuries had a much longer list: running back Jeremy McNichols, corner Greg Mabin, linebackers David Long, Jr. and Rashaan Evans, guard Nate Davis, outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi and defensive lineman Teair Tart.
NOTES
The Patriots won their sixth straight for the 15th time since 2001, most in the NFL…
New England also has already bettered last year’s 7-9 record with their eighth win (8-4)…
The Patriots finished the month of November 4-0, the 28th undefeated month for the franchise since 2000. Green Bay is second with 19 during that period…
Patriots special teamer Matthew Slater on Sunday became the third Patriots player to play in 100 games, the other two being Tom Brady (134) and kicker Stephen Gostkowski…
Speaking of kickers, Nick Folk had five field goals on Sunday, one being a 52-yarder in the fourth quarter, his fifth 50-yard field goal of the season. Folk tied the team mark of five 50-yard field goals, done by Gostkowski in the 2013 season. Folk has 31 field goals on the season to lead the league…
Former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe was at Sunday’s game…
The Gillette Stadium field crew was working long after the game Sunday to eliminate all the football lines, markings, etc. and replace it with soccer markings for the Revolution playoff game set for Tuesday night…
Next up for the Patriots: at Buffalo on Monday night, Dec. 6.