Message Stressed In Patriots’ Team Meeting Isn’t Great Indication

The New England Patriots need a higher level of commitment.

It’s alarming that something like that needs to be stressed by coaches and veterans after seven games. But it was clear the collective buy-in wasn’t there through the first two months.

Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt told reporters at Gillette Stadium on Thursday there was a meeting “demanding” more from players. Patriots captain Ja’Whaun Bentley orchestrated the meeting, according to veteran receiver Kendrick Bourne. Players taking a more professional approach was among the topics.

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“We had a really great team meeting this morning where that was pointed out,” Van Pelt told reporters, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Obviously, at 1-6, it’s not good enough across the board, any of us. We need to be better.

“We need to work harder. We need to rehab harder. We have to refresh better. We have to take care of ourselves. We have to spend more time in the room,” Van Pelt continued. “Good meeting this morning demanding more of everybody across the board, and those guys (wide receivers) are included.”

Van Pelt said the young group of receivers must “keep its focus inward.” That position group has failed to do so with Ja’Lynn Polk and K.J. Osborn recently taking to social media to express frustration.

The questions relating to professionalism come after Bourne indicated teammates didn’t take such approach into the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Bourne hinted players didn’t take care of their bodies with their respective diets and rest, and could benefit from making better “personal decisions.”

Bourne doubled down Thursday. He said the goal of the meeting was to address the “elephant in the room” while insisting the whole team needs to do more on a day-to-day basis.

“It’s just staying focused on what’s important,” Bourne told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry. “I think that’s where we’ve been failing. Getting distracted by everything else, being too individualized.”

Perhaps Jerod Mayo’s “soft” comment, the ensuing headlines and Thursday’s meeting lead to a rallying moment for the Patriots. They have the opportunity to quiet the external noise when they face the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

But if not, the midseason meeting on professionalism is going to look too little, too late during a freefall in New England.