Patriots’ Kendrick Bourne Opens Up After ‘Tough’ Benching

The Patriots made an odd decision prior to Sunday’s win over the Chicago Bears.

New England decided to go at it without wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, who suited up for the contest but received zero snaps. It’s a decision that has been questioned, but ultimately came without much of a fuss from the 29-year-old.

“They’re trying to get the young guys going. They kind of just told me through the week that I was going to be down,” Bourne told MassLive’s Mark Daniels on Wednesday. “I looked at it internally. Not pointing a finger. I can play better. I look at my film. I look at myself. Honestly, I don’t think it has anything to do with my knee. It’s just I have to play better. The Jets game, I think about that — I have to make those plays. I can block better. I can do a lot of things better. Just look within as I evaluate myself.

“Even the Tennessee game, I had some good catches, but I can play better. That’s kind of how I look at it. If I want to play, if they see something that I can’t see, I have to go apply myself, so I’m not in this situation. That’s how I’m approaching it.”

Bourne handled the benching much better than one would anticipate, especially after a very similar situation was made public by teammate K.J. Osborn following a Week 7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Patriots seem to have made the right choice when it came to which to bench, however, as the focus is now on how soon the veteran can get back into the fold.

“It’s tough,” Bourne said. “We’re winning, so that fixes everything. That’s great to win. But it’s tough. I’ve had a great career. I’ve built a good resume, so I know who I am. I know what I stand for. I’ve always been a positive guy, so when things get tough and get rough, do I change? Do I become somebody else? That’s not the approach I’m going to take. I’m going to be positive and look on the bright side. I’m still here; I have an opportunity. I think it’s going to come back around. I’m staying prepared, practicing hard for my opportunity when it comes.”

Bourne has eight catches on the season.