#FreeKendrickBourne -- Should Kendrick Bourne start against Steelers in Week2?

[1960Pats]

He did the crime and paid the time (and then some). Time to move on and play him

Rumor has it that Parker is Patricia's guy and it's his way or the highway. They may move on and move Bourne.

 

[State]

I get that you're Jakobi's #1 cheerleader. I also like Meyers. However, Bourne was the team's #1 receiver in YAC, by a LOT. Dude has a knack for putting up some yards which is what this team desperately needs. Play the man! #FreeKendrickBourne.

Outside speed or the lack thereof has been hampering this offense for years.

We finally addressed it this year with our second round pick, that skinny kid from Baylor.

We need both him and Bourne on the field…at the same time…to give the opposing defense something to worry about deep.

Get well, Thornton. Is that the kid’s name?

 

[Zuma]

You can't let the lunatics run the asylum. If Bourne was punished in game one because he was late to a meeting then it was the right thing to do. Time to move on and get him back into the lineup, he's been saying all the right things to the media and seems contrite.

The thing is…it was about 5 weeks ago. I think it was a mistake to bench him.

 

[gobesmug]

And many if not most Detroit fans will say Patricia is the worst hiring decision in the history of the Lions.

And that’s saying something.

That fifth game that most here think will be a Patriots victory will keep looming larger with each Patriots loss.

I think a fair question to ask is Belicheck choosing his coordinators and assistant coaches based on who he thinks will best help the team, or is he choosing friends and family that he wants to spend more time with?

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Rumor has it that Parker is Patricia's guy and it's his way or the highway. They may move on and move Bourne.

I think parker needs to turn it around fast or hes the one that should be riding the pine. Despite his fumble Agholor was getting open, honestly couldve had 100 yards if mac sees and gets the ball to him. Meyers is meyers, mac loves him and he just gets it done. So bourne’s and eventually hopefully thornton’s snaps gotta come at someone’s expense.

 

[1960Pats]

Make him do community service. Who cares if he starts? Give him snaps otherwise why is he wasting a roster spot? He needs to play .. get your pound of flesh some other way it won't hurt the team

I can think of three situations where Bill decided to punish a player by sitting him out. If there's more that I missed feel free to add them.
1) Welker for his foot jokes.
2) Butler in the SB.
3) Bourne last week.
The Pats lost all three games and it can be argued that those surprise moves had an impact on the team.

 

[upstater1]

Huh? What are you talking about?
Bourne signed a three year, $15 million contract. He received $5.25 million in guarantees. There are up to $750,000 in annual per game bonuses. Another $7.5 million in incentives and escalators are available.

But in your view that's chump change and we can just afford to sit him.

BTW, Gage got 3 for $30M.
30/15 does not equal 5. Lol

Yeah, I got the years and per reversed. Instead of $3 for 5, it's $5 for 3. Still, points stands. And I got Gage wrong too, got him confused with Christian Kirk, who is at $18m a year. Look, I couldn't tell you the difference between Kirk, Bourne or Gage a year ago. It's clear though other teams are playing a premium for marginal WRs. Were you even aware Kirk was an $18m receiver in this league?

 

[State]

In-season I don't think a coaching change does much... I'd start picking some juniors and assistants for this season, guys with some CV, and yes, from his circle (so he feels comfortable working from the get-go)

but I'm ready to die on this hill: We NEED an overhaul of the coaching staff. BB needs to let go of something, bring THE best outside guy he can find, I'd say even with the Krafts overseeing* the process (pls, dont let Robert alone in these meetings Jonathan), and fill the coaching staff with other people, with experience in OTHER winning cultures.

I've been preaching this for over a year now, the shoe is gonna drop sooner or later, the patriots organogram is just NOT healthy

The Patriots organization is suffering because of the one coach with his stinking fingerprints over too much. Matt Patricia.

In Detroit he kept playing his second round linebacker Tavai, who is simply awful, after it was clear to most fans and their grandmas that he had to be benched.

When a new regime came in, Tavai was cut. So he went from being a starter under Fatt Matt to being released by Dan Campbell.

What occurred in Miami? Tavai was active while Anfernee Jennings, who had a good camp and can actually play, was not.

But Tavai is always early for meetings and does whatever the coaches ask. Bourne, our most explosive receiver, can be late once or twice for meetings.

So I will go all Vince Lombardi.

Great, Coach Patricia. But you still need to win the game.

 

[1960Pats]

I think parker needs to turn it around fast or hes the one that should be riding the pine. Despite his fumble Agholor was getting open, honestly couldve had 100 yards if mac sees and gets the ball to him. Meyers is meyers, mac loves him and he just gets it done. So bourne’s and eventually hopefully thornton’s snaps gotta come at someone’s expense.

The first time I saw Agholor after he was drafted by Philthy I was very impressed. He hasn't looked as good since.

 

[Vindicate]

I can think of three situations where Bill decided to punish a player by sitting him out. If there's more that I missed feel free to add them.
1) Welker for his foot jokes.
2) Butler in the SB.
3) Bourne last week.
The Pats lost all three games and it can be argued that those surprise moves had an impact on the team.

Didn't welker only get sat for a half, as well? I could be remembering wrong.

 

[JayNM]

The Patriots organization is suffering because of the one coach with his stinking fingerprints over too much. Matt Patricia.

In Detroit he kept playing his second round linebacker Tavai, who is simply awful, after it was clear to most fans and their grandmas that he had to be benched.

When a new regime came in, Tavai was cut. So he went from being a starter under Fatt Matt to being released by Dan Campbell.

What occurred in Miami? Tavai was active while Anfernee Jennings, who had a good camp and can actually play, was not.

But Tavai is always early for meetings and does whatever the coaches ask. Bourne, our most explosive receiver, can be late once or twice for meetings.

So I will go all Vince Lombardi.

Great, Coach Patricia. But you still need to win the game.

I dont want to defend Matty here, so I won't

Great leaders inspire. Matt demands. There is a difference, for sure.

 

[State]

The first time I saw Agholor after he was drafted by Philthy I was very impressed. He hasn't looked as good since.

Every time I see Uche in shorts I am very impressed. Once the games start, he disappears.

Why is that?

Maybe he is not a player.

 

[Sicilian]

I dont want to defend Matty here, so I won't

Great leaders inspire. Matt demands. There is a difference, for sure.

I don't want to defend him specifically either. He needs to prove he's good enough to be an OC and that's very much in the air. But he's starting to become a boogieman around here. I get blaming him for offensive struggles, because that's his role. But he's starting to be blamed for personnel decisions and defensive lineups now? From a lot of the same people who blame Belichick for handing his son the job as a de facto DC, now he's letting Patricia overrule his son and play Tavai?

Blame him for the offense not looking sharp and ready. Totally fair. The rest of it is people just blaming him for everything because they don't like him in general, going all the way back to not liking the style of defense he used to call.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Every time I see Uche in shorts I am very impressed. Once the games start, he disappears.

Why is that?

Maybe he is not a player.

He fools posters on this board with his sacks in preseason.

 

[JayNM]

I don't want to defend him specifically either. He needs to prove he's good enough to be an OC and that's very much in the air. But he's starting to become a boogieman around here. I get blaming him for offensive struggles, because that's his role. But he's starting to be blamed for personnel decisions and defensive lineups now? From a lot of the same people who blame Belichick for handing his son the job as a de facto DC, now he's letting Patricia overrule his son and play Tavai?

Blame him for the offense not looking sharp and ready. Totally fair. The rest of it is people just blaming him for everything because they don't like him in general, going all the way back to not liking the style of defense he used to call.

I mean... welcome to pro sport, right?


The problem is that the scenario (And it is BB's fault, to a degree, too) makes it too easy to blame it on Matt, specially if Mac doesn't improve this year

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

The first time I saw Agholor after he was drafted by Philthy I was very impressed. He hasn't looked as good since.

Still hopeful we see a leap with him. He supposedly had a good camp and all , but someone with his skill set with a qb who mostly still had training wheels on was a tough pairing early on. Hopefully mac and him get it going this year

 

[PScottman]

but he can also perform brain surgery and walk on water.

Which we immediately heard the Boston media report as "water on the brain and inability to walk; both likely caused by coaching."

 

[Bill Lee]

Nice try bro but no. Patricia back maybe running the defense, ok. Offense, are you kidding me?

We get it. You should be the one picking the OC. The guy who has been GM/HC since 2000, has eight rings, and is being paid $millions to make such decisions can't judge talent better than you can from the couch in your living room.

And then putting talent in his “ doghouse”?? He doesn’t have the standing on offense to HAVE a doghouse. I stand by what I said.

You are standing on a cloud of supposition from Tom Curran. We don't know who decided on the Bourne discipline. Tom Curran says he doesn't know. Yet you know exactly what went down.

 

[PScottman]

BB's General Eisenhower thing only blows games and ruins talent

Supreme Allied Commander?
Planned and led largest amphibious assault in history?
President who got the Interstate System in place?
Ordered the largest mass deportation operation in US history?

Defining the "thing" of which you speak might help with contextualizing your point.

 

[PScottman]

Yep . The Bourne discipline is coming from Bill.

It's clear Bourne's isn't as dialed in as he was last year and he's being reminded where he needs to be.

Once he does he'll play 70% of the snaps again.

The players that practice the best during the week play Sunday. It's been that way forever. It's also likely why Tavai was in the lineup instead of Jennings last week as well.

There are some exceptions to that - usually the superstars, but if you're not one of those guys - competition isn't just in camp - it's every day.