New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte spoke to reporters for the first time since the state of Louisianna dropped its gambling charges against him earlier this month.
Entering his second season with the Patriots, Boutte said he felt grateful to be back on the field with his teammates.
“It feels great. I’ll say a lot was going on during the offseason, but now I’m back focused,” Boutte told reporters after Day 4 of training camp on Sunday, per team-provided video. “It’s only football from here. It feels good not thinking about what’s going to happen every day, just coming out and playing free.”
The 22-year-old turned himself in Jan. 25 after being charged with underage gambling and computer fraud.
“It was a dumb decision that I made when I was young,” Boutte said. “Unfortunately, it happened, but now it’s behind us and let’s just focus on football.”
Although Boutte didn’t divulge why the charges were dropped, he admitted he’s done gambling for a while.
“I just feel like I need to stay away from it,” he said. “It’s not like I’m addicted or nothing, but just something that I need to let go. I wouldn’t try it again knowing that something worse could come from it. You live and you learn. Like coach says, ‘You don’t want to make the same mistake twice.'”
Boutte made two catches for 19 yards in five games in his rookie campaign last season. He will battle fellow second-year wideout Demario Douglas, rookies Javon Baker and Ja’Lynn Polk and veterans Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn for reps this season.
“It’s a fight every day. Rent is due every day, so every day we come out here and try to get better,” Boutte said. “That’s individually and as a team. I think we all know there’s a limited amount of spots. We’re over the amount of receivers we need. Every day we come out here, it’s a battle. Just have to show (the coaches) why you deserve top be there.”
