Even before free agent wide receiver addition Kendrick Bourne caught a single pass in a Patriots uniform it was pretty clear he was going to bring a unique impact to the New England offense.
One of the many spring signings – after four solid-if-unspectacular seasons with the 49ers, Bourne inked a three-year, $15-million deal with New England in March – Bourne arrived in Foxborough with a smile on his face and proverbial bounce in his step.
Even while acclimating to a new team, environment and offense, Bourne has brought an obvious energy to his work from spring OTAs right through the daily grind of training camp and into the regular season.
“KB has got some good energy. He brings that out to the practice field every day. It’s fun to have that type of personality and energy interjected into the team,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said with rare and revealing smile this week. “He works hard. Some of the things we’ve asked him to do, I feel like he’s really improved with. He’s got some good skills. Good quickness. He’s got length. Good target. Catches the ball well. He’s quick. Good skill set and a guy who’s continued to work hard and get better every single day. I have a lot of respect for the way he approaches the game and his work ethic on the practice field.”
Through his first five games catching balls from rookie QB Mac Jones, Bourne is third on the Patriots with 17 receptions for 207 yards with one touchdown. His best performance came with six catches for a career-best 96 yards and a touchdown against the Saints.
Bourne is on pace to set career-best season totals in both catches and yards.
And regardless of the hurdles of learning a new offense or dealing with the ups and downs of the regulars season, he’s going to do it all with a positive outlook on life as a Patriot.
“Honestly, I would just say I'm enjoying where I'm at in life. I'm enjoying the moment, everything that I've been through in life, and just taking it day by day, man, you know, really enjoying the days,” Bourne explained when asked about his positive energy. “It don't get no easier if I'm pouting around or coming out here with a bad attitude, it doesn't help anything. So, I've just been like this all my life, man, and just staying, you know, keeping that kid-friendly energy in me and enjoying the game. As it is, it's hard already, as we all know, it's already tough. So, to be out there with a bad attitude and not have fun, is what I try to avoid. If it's not fun for me anymore, it's going to be harder. So I just try to get my guys going, you know, bring energy, so my guys be like, 'Well, he can do it, I can to do it,' and stuff like that. So, energy is just always good, man, it helps guys play better, practice better, feel better, and that's just what it is, so that's just how I've been."
Bourne admits there were a few times in the spring and summer where his energy tailed off a bit as he struggled to learn the new offense and execute on the practice field. But he talked himself out of his minor funk, and is now relaxed in his role which includes keeping everyone around him as upbeat as possible.
“We are in full control of how we smile, how we act, whatever it may be, we're in control,” Bourne said. “So that's my mindset, man. It's to come out here, be positive, and good things happen. Ever since I've felt like that, I've seen myself gradually elevate, and I'm not going to change because if I do, I'll eventually do that because I'm not being myself, and I'm not thinking positively. So that's just how it's been, man, and I'm blessed to have an attitude. Even my teammates see it on me, and they're kind of shocked, like, 'This guy's weird' or 'What's wrong with him?' But it's just me being a team player, wanting my teammates - if you're down, bro, hopefully I can bring my energy to help you wake up or get you going a little bit, and that's just being a good team player, in my opinion.”
