I scanned all the new, hip, analytics-based sites – PFF, NextGen, et al – and there is no “words per catch” statistic to be found.
That’s good news for the New England Patriots receiving corps, which has spent too much time this fall talking about themselves and not enough doing what they are paid for, which is catching the football and moving the chains.
Veterans are barking. So are the rookies and everyone in between. The nerve of this group.
Its leader, Kendrick Bourne, has led the charge talking about how much he likes the room.
“I think we do a good job in our receiver room. I’m proud of (DeMario Douglas) and I’m proud of (Kayshon) Boutte. These guys came out and really showed off. These are the kind of people I want to play with,” pronounced Bourne, who has 130 catches (total) in his three plus seasons here.
“As a leader now, I try to tell those guys, always be humble. We showed as a group (against Houston) we can do more. and we can still do more. That was big for us to finally kind of put some points on the board, put things together, make some plays, but there’s definitely more out there.”
Did Bourne notice that the Patriots put up 21 points in a 41-21 loss to Houston?
Is that some kind of heroic milestone?
This is the leader of a group that has seen Tyquan Thornton and before him Jalen Reagor take to social media to proclaim their dissatisfaction with their situations on the team.
Douglas and rookie Ja’Lynn Polk were a bit more direct. They went straight to the media to voice their issues. Douglas sounded off about offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt choosing to not call his number early.
This week, it was Polk’s turn, publicly contradicting head coach Jerod Mayo’s assertion that the kid’s dropped-ball problem was a bit of a “mental hump” he needed to get over.
First of all, Polk noted, he has no drop problem.
The kid has 10 catches on 23 targets for 78 yards in six games. If it isn’t his drops – he had two on Sunday – what is the problem?
“I believe I have the best hands in the league. So, I feel like my drops, that’s not an issue at all,” Polk said this week. “I’ve got more confidence in myself than anybody has in me. I just have the mindset of wanting to be the best. So, keep chasing greatness and being the best that I can be.”
Buy stock now, folks.
“You guys see the things we say subliminally, there’s meaning behind everything for sure. I love the confidence piece,” said Bourne, again on his “Patriots Monday appearance on WEEI’s Jones & Keefe show. “I think there are certain things you say and don’t say. and we have to be careful with those posted things like that. Also, we can be ourselves. We can believe in ourselves. and I think that’s what it speaks to … Just going out there playing hard and playing for each other is important.
“You have to be careful with what you put out there. You also have to back it up. If you’re going to talk the talk then walk the walk.”
Talking the talk? Patriots receivers have that one covered. Completely!
Walking the walk? They might want to try a little bit harder at that one.
“We have a young offense, and we’re making progress, first game together as a young offense, and we should be moving forward,” says Douglas, whose previous whining seems to have been assuaged.
As for the progress, let’s find a way to beat some of these other pathetic teams, starting with Jacksonville, Sunday morning in London.
Until then, they might want to avoid Instagram.