We’re running a mailbag on Thursdays during the season. If you have questions on the Patriots, NFL, or want gripe about past answers, email cmason@masslive.com or tweet @bychrismason. Now let’s get to this week’s questions!
What’s really going on with Kendrick Bourne? The reasons for him not playing don’t pass the smell test — Miller
So, I don’t believe it’s a simple as prioritizing snaps for young players nor do I think there’s any smoking gun. To me, it looks like the coaching staff just doesn’t believe Bourne has been sharp enough.
First things first, Bourne told colleague Mark Daniels that he found out Wednesday last week that he’d be benched against the Bears, but wasn’t given a specific reason beyond “trying to get the young guys going.” We can eliminate that right from the jump because of what played out: Fellow veteran K.J. Osborn played 29 snaps in Chicago — second most of any wideout — while rookie Javon Baker finished with 4 snaps. It wasn’t just simply playing young guys. Bourne was mum on any specifics.
“I’m not sure, honestly. I don’t know either. Like, I can’t point out anything specific,” Bourne said. “I think it’s just overall if I grade myself, it wasn’t good enough. If I’m grading myself on the last four games, it’s not good enough. That’s how I have to approach it. Some catches can be good. I was on the ground a lot in that Tennessee game – little things that I can clean up. That’s literally how I’m approaching it.”
So let’s rewind to the Titans loss.
Bourne led Patriots wideouts with four catches for 41 yards in 54 offensive snaps. However, he also had a false start, ran a third down route short of the sticks — so some of those yards were hollow — and fell down on Drake Maye’s game-ending interception. Bourne’s spill allowed a safety to undercut Kayshon Boutte’s route, and that was that. On the season, Bourne now has eight catches for 70 yards in five games. It just hasn’t been sharp.
On the flip side, I don’t think there’s any sort of discipline issue. If this was Javon Baker missing curfew in London, the Patriots would have scratched Bourne and made Tyquan Thornton active instead. That wasn’t the case. Bourne was in uniform, just knocked down the depth chart.
The 29-year-old is in the first season of a three-year deal. Ultimately, I think Jerod Mayo wanted to send Bourne a message that the Patriots need more from him. We’ll see if that translates to Sunday afternoon.
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Have we seen an improvement or progression in Jerod Mayo as a coach? Or would you say he is still the same as back in week 1 or even January when he was hired? — Conor M.
There have been some growing pains this season, but I do think Mayo is improving.
If you’re looking for something tangible, the second quarter in Chicago is a great example. The Patriots had bungled multiple end-of-half situations earlier in the season, but managed the clock perfectly against the Bears and stole three points heading into halftime. That’s growth. Couple that with a lack of penalties and the creative “Longhorn” package for Brenden Schooler on defense, and the Bears game looked very well-coached.
However, we’re also just over a week removed from kicking into the wind in overtime at Tennessee. There are going to be ebbs and flows, but this entire season is going to be a learning experience for Mayo. He knows as much.
“Just like a player, you expect players – they make their biggest jump from year one to year two,” Mayo said last Friday. “My expectation for me personally as a head coach is to make the biggest jump from year one to year two.”
I think there’s been improvement, but progress is not always going to be a linear thing.
What Patriot coaches/front office staff will Bill Belichick take when he gets a head coach position next year? — Dane P.
I actually don’t think there will be a ton of defection if Belichick gets another head coaching gig.
I don’t see a team giving him full personnel control, so I think the Patriots front office would be safe, and most of the offensive staff has already turned over. There are a few defensive assistants like his son Brian and perhaps cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino that could follow Belichick somewhere, but I don’t think it’d be a large-scale exodus.
What is the latest on Jabrill Peppers? — Omar B.
Peppers remains on the Commissioner’s Exempt List and his next court date is scheduled for for Nov. 22. That’s a pre-trial hearing. Arrested following a reported domestic dispute, Peppers faces charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation or suffocation, possession of Class B substance (cocaine) and assault and battery on a household or family member.
Appearing on “The Breakfast Club,” Robert Kraft said Peppers “is gone” if the allegations are true, but that the team wants to get to the bottom of things.
“When you read the (police report) initially, it turns your stomach,” Kraft said. “Once he goes on the commissioner exempt list, they do their independent checking. We’re doing ours. If what was reported is true, he’s gone. There have been some suggestions that this was a set-up and a lot of what was reported isn’t accurate … We want to get the facts.”
Do you have a prediction on the return of Caedan Wallace and Cole Strange by any chance? — @lunardreams.bsky.social
I predict both offensive linemen will return this season, but neither will see game action before Thanksgiving. That’s about as specific as this cloudy crystal ball can get with long-term injuries.
Is Josh McDaniels available? — David D.
Yes, but I don’t think it’d be worth making Alex Van Pelt one-and-done for him. Also, I’d imagine McDaniels will join Belichick wherever his next stop is. He’s probably just biding his time.
I’d argue the Patriots would be 6-4 right now if Bill Belichick was still the coach. Your thoughts? — Colin L.
That’s an impossible exercise because I don’t think Belichick would have taken Drake Maye at No. 3 overall.
