Tag: Kendrick Bourne

Madden 24: See the ratings for entire Patriots roster

Did Madden get the Patriots’ ratings right this year?

We are closing in on the start of the 2023 regular season, which means only one thing: It’s Madden season.

With the recent release of EA’s “Madden NFL 24”, the New England Patriots weren’t given much respect at all as far as the player ratings are concerned. Sadly, that’s what happens when a team is an absolute mess and misses the playoffs.

But there is hope for things to be better this time around with all of the new additions to the roster, including the return of Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator. The team also made the big splash signing at running back with former two-time NFL leading rusher Ezekiel Elliott joining an offensive backfield that already had burgeoning star rusher Rhamondre Stevenson.

Elliott isn’t listed as a Patriots running back on this list, but that will surely change in a future update. For now, let’s take a look at the overall rating for every Patriots player on the Madden 24 roster.

Studs and duds from Patriots’ preseason win vs. Packers

Who were the studs and duds of the weekend for the Patriots?

The New England Patriots made the trek to Lambeau Field on Saturday to face thousands of screaming cheese heads and the Green Bay Packers.

It was mostly a mixed bag performance for the Patriots, who ultimately came out on top in  a 21-17 victory. The game was suspended early in the fourth quarter after Patriots rookie cornerback Isaiah Bolden suffered a head injury that required him to be rushed to the hospital.

It was later reported that Bolden was released from Aurora Bay Medical Center and allowed to travel back home with his teammates.

Although the Patriots didn’t play a full football game, there were more than enough moments to pick the studs and duds from a little over three quarters of action. Here’s who stood out the most for New England in the game.

Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne cleverly used a reporter’s harsh critique to take a shot

This was really clever and really petty.

On paper, the New England Patriots don’t exactly seem rife with wide receiver talent. Free agent addition JuJu Smith-Schuster — a possession playmaker — projects to be the No. 1 target in a passing offense also expecting (hoping for?) a big leap from sophomore flanker Tyquan Thornton.

Such a situation had reporter Mike Giardi rip the Patriots’ receivers during a training camp analysis video with NBC Sports Boston. The part of Giardi’s criticism that stuck out the most was his description of New England’s skill position talent: “Stink, stank, stunk.”

After Patriots training camp practice Sunday, Bourne was asked for his thoughts on New England’s receiving room. He kept it simple: He reused Giardi’s words against him to take a jab.

I don’t know that I disagree with the general sentiment of Giardi’s thought process. The Patriots’ receiving room, on paper, is indeed one of the worst in the NFL. However, Giardi probably shouldn’t be surprised that a professional athlete might highlight the Grinch-related/referenced harshness. He might have taken that a little far.

Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne spills beans on funny Bill Belichick story

Bill Belichick has jokes. If you don’t believe it, just ask Kendrick Bourne.

New England Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne and coach Bill Belichick clearly have a good relationship, and a recent fun interaction between the two at training camp proves it.

A recent video caught the two sharing a fist pump and short conversation at a practice. When asked about the interaction, Bourne told a funny anecdote involving some good-natured ribbing from Belichick.

“Yeah, a teachable moment. He said something funny,” Bourne told reporters, via NESN’s Adam London. “I’ll tell y’all what he said. He said, ‘You’re sweating already, we haven’t even started yet.’ It was funny.”

Bourne is looking for a bounce-back season in 2023.

He recorded 35 catches for 434 yards and a touchdown last year. New England is hoping he can get back to his production from 2021. He really carved out a role for himself in the offense and became one of quarterback Mac Jones’ favorite targets.

Bourne appears ready to turn the page and continue to build on the many great relationships he has with Belichick and so many others in the Patriots’ organization. If anything, this recent interaction proves no one is safe from Belichick’s jokes.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Madden 24 ratings for every Patriots wide receiver

How did EA Sports rate the Patriots’ receiving corps in “Madden NFL 24”?

The New England Patriots’ wide receiver position has probably been the most contentiously debated amongst fans. So it’s no surprise there has been plenty of excitement surrounding the “Madden NFL 24” player ratings reveal at the position.

After losing Jakobi Meyers in free agency, the Patriots brought in JuJu Smith-Schuster to join the likes of DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton.

None of those names jump off on paper exactly as a true No. 1 receiving option, but they are all quality targets for Patriots quarterback Mac Jones. Will it be enough firepower to compete in an AFC East division that’s arguably the best in football?

Good luck with that.

Here’s a look at the ratings for every Patriots receiver on the roster for the upcoming “Madden NFL 24” video game:

5 takeaways from Day 2 of Patriots training camp practice

5 takeaways from Day 2 of Patriots training camp

The New England Patriots were back on the practice field on Thursday for Day 2 of training camp.

In many ways, it felt like a carryover from Wednesday’s practice with the team focusing more on red zone work. Coach Bill Belichick mentioned the first week was an extension of minicamp and OTAs, but the team is expected to up the intensity and bring out the pads next week.

The story of the day was once again about the defense dominating. Granted, quarterback Mac Jones and the offense had a few nice plays in 11-on-11s, but for the most part, they struggled against a stingy Patriots defense that appeared tough to fend off at every level.

Here are six takeaways from Day 2 of Patriots training camp:

Asante Samuel has surprising pick as the Patriots’ best receiver

Asante Samuel name dropped the Patriots’ best receiver, and his answer might surprise you.

Former New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel was once again critical of his former team on Twitter. This time, he criticized the organization’s use of wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, who he believes is the best receiver on the team.

Bourne had tremendous success with the team in his first season. He caught 55 passes for 800 yards and five touchdowns. He did not find the same offensive success with New England in 2022. He only tallied 35 catches for 434 yards and a touchdown. The wide receiver could never get into a groove in an offense run by former Patriots play-caller Matt Patricia.

Bourne did have a breakout game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Christmas Eve. He recorded six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown in a game that did not even see him in the starting lineup.

Samuel believes that New England is doing him dirty, as he wrote in a social media post.

“Kendrick Bourne, the patriots best wide receiver, do you see how they are playing with his career,” Samuel posted.

Bourne could have a key role in the offense this season. The unit will be more organized, and that could lead to more opportunities for him to find success on the field.

Still, on the surface, this seems like Samuel taking another opportunity to knock the Patriots. Regardless, the upcoming season will tell a lot.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne reportedly had a ‘great spring’

Things could be looking up for Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8221″]

New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne had a rough go of things last season, failing to build on his career-best 2021 season.

He finished the year recording 35 catches for 434 yards and a touchdown in comparison to the 55 receptions, 800 yards and five touchdowns he had in the previous year.

Most of that success stemmed from the strong rapport he had with quarterback Mac Jones, along with Josh McDaniels still overseeing the offense at that time.

There’s still hope he can get back to being the player that showed up on tape as a legitimate downfield threat for the Patriots in 2021. Here’s what ESPN’s Mike Reiss had to say on Bourne:

Seven-year veteran receiver Kendrick Bourne was critical of himself for his 2022 performance (35 catches, 434 yards, 1 TD) after a productive 2021 season with the Patriots (55 catches, 800 yards, 5 TDs). His hard work this offseason has made an impression, with one member of the team relaying he had a “great spring.”

Bourne didn’t see much playing time at all last season, but he started to emerge as a playmaker toward the end of the year. He had a six-catch, 100-yard performance against the Cincinnati Bengals on Christmas Eve.

His success could be equally as important to Jones, who is also looking to have a bounce-back year. A good season from Bourne would undoubtedly help the quarterback find his footing again.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Patriots might have moved on from fan-favorite to get DeAndre Hopkins

If DeAndre Hopkins signed with the Patriots, another receiver reportedly might have been on the way out

[anyclip pubname=”2123″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8169″]

The New England Patriots were reportedly in the sweepstakes to acquire wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. However, New England may have had to give up a fan favorite in order to get the wide receiver.

A new report indicates the Patriots might have moved on from wide receiver Kendrick Bourne in order to make room for Hopkins, via the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.

Bourne played sparingly in the 2022 season. He tallied 35 receptions for 434 yards and a touchdown. He started to be a bit more involved in the offense later in the season, but the Patriots were out of the playoff picture by then.

Kyed recently appeared on the “Pats Interference Football Podcast” and noted that Bourne probably would have been the odd man out.

“From what I was hearing, there was a good possibility that Bourne was probably going to be on his way out, if Hopkins was on his way in,” said Kyed. “Paying Hopkins, [DeVante] Parker, [JuJu] Smith-Schuster and Kendrick Bourne, all having cap hits in the $5 million-plus range, probably didn’t make a lot of sense when you’ve got Tyquan Thornton on the team and you’ve got the two rookies [Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte].”

It’s certainly interesting to think about how that would’ve impacted the wide receiver room.

Quarterback Mac Jones and Bourne developed a bit of a rapport in 2021. The addition of Hopkins would have given the Patriots a top-tier receiver, which is something they have been missing for quite a while. But now, Jones can move forward with Bourne and the offense in its current state with the Hopkins speculation officially in the rearview.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

3 fantasy football sleepers for Patriots in 2023

Here are three potential fantasy football sleepers for the Patriots

There are three New England Patriots players that offer some high upside that fans may want to snag later in fantasy football drafts.

Like I mentioned in a previous article, there is no need to select them all, but grabbing one at the end of the draft might be a smart play in deeper leagues.

The Patriots have a history of having low fantasy numbers for their skill players, but with Bill O’Brien back in the fold, the three players on this list might offer some higher upside if the offense ends up clicking in 2023.

I wouldn’t consider drafting these players as more than bench players for fantasy. I’d also lean towards taking them after Round 10, if possible.

Here are three fantasy football sleepers for the Patriots: