Leadership on the New England Patriots can’t be just confined to Jerod Mayo and the team’s six captains.
It needs to come from every corner of the locker room and organization with the Patriots going through a less than ideal rebuilding period and off to a gloomy 1-4 start this season.
Mayo saw some players step up in that regard, including one offensive player who was part of a trade package prior to the start of the season.
“Look, you’re voted captain by your peers. I would also say there are levels to leadership. I would say that we have some people that also offer leadership. I’ll throw Kendrick Bourne in that bucket, a guy who just recently got back,” Mayo told reporters Friday, per team-provided transcript. “He may not have a ‘C’ on his chest, but he is a great leader for our organization. I would say we have a few of those players in the locker room.”
Bourne, who spent the first four weeks of the season on injured reserve as he finished his recovery from a torn ACL, made it his goal to take on more of a leadership role in his fourth season with the Patriots. He set out to be named captain and despite that not happening, it doesn’t take away from the status the 29-year-old has with the team.
Teammates and the New England coaching staff raved about Bourne and the energy he brings to the facility on a daily basis. It’s not a surprise that Bourne is looked up to, especially in a young wide receiver room featuring rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker along with DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte, both of whom are in their second NFL season.
But that group might not get to learn from Bourne for long. It’s possible the Patriots look to deal the eight-year veteran prior to the Nov. 5 trade deadline with their season going nowhere. New England almost said goodbye to Bourne in the offseason when he was part of a trade package destined for the San Francisco 49ers in a deal for Brandon Aiyuk.
That trade fell apart, though, keeping Bourne with New England. He handled the situation like a professional, understanding the business side of football.
The Patriots should feel lucky for that. In a season in which a top defensive player called out his teammates for being “selfish,” receivers have thrown on-field tantrums and Jabrill Peppers got into an off-the-field incident, Bourne put the team ahead of himself.
That’s good leadership by example if the Patriots want to turn things around.
