In their Week 10 victory over the Chicago Bears, the New England Patriots benched wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, which left many questioning the reasoning behind the decision.
The Patriots had chosen not to trade Bourne at the deadline, leading many to believe that the team considered him a key player for the future. So why was he benched?
Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt attempted to explain, but his reasoning seemed unclear. “We’ll put the guys out there that give us the best chance. Kendrick did some good things [in Week 9], and he’s a big part of this offense,” Van Pelt said to reporters (via Bernd Buchmasser of Pats Pulpit). “We just felt like there were areas where he could improve, and that influenced the decision. He’ll be a big part of our future. He brings a lot of energy and his effort is exceptional. It’s just how it went last week. It could change week to week, but he’s an important part of our team.”
Wait—so you’re putting out the best players to win, but you bench someone you’ve called a “big part” of the offense?
Something doesn’t quite add up.
Van Pelt’s mention of Bourne needing to “improve” is also puzzling. Bourne isn’t a rookie—he’s an eight-year veteran. How does sitting on the bench help him improve?
The Patriots signed Bourne to a three-year contract extension in the offseason, but after tearing his ACL midseason, he returned to action on October 6. Since then, he has recorded just eight catches for 70 yards.
Given the circumstances, it’s increasingly apparent that New England may have been better off trading Bourne at the deadline.
