On Thursday's edition of Zolak and Bertrand, the guys were joined by Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne following the team's training camp practice. Bourne discussed the offense's throwing sessions in North Carolina, along with the installation of Josh McDaniels' offense.
00:00Let's welcome in, from field level, Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne joins us on Zolak and Bertrand.
00:07Kendrick, good afternoon.
00:08What's up, Zolak?
00:09KB, what's up?
00:09What's up?
00:10What's up?
00:10What's up, guys?
00:11How y'all doing?
00:12How you feeling, man?
00:13I'm feeling well, man.
00:13I'm feeling good, man.
00:14Life's good.
00:14How you guys doing?
00:15I'm doing good.
00:17Hey, before we get to the stuff happening here today, you guys put a lot of work in this offseason.
00:22I've talked to you.
00:22You said you were happy that Josh McDaniels was back.
00:25And you guys had that workout in North Carolina where you guys all went down to see Drake.
00:30Yeah.
00:30I think Coach Vrabel said it was about 95% Drake putting the guys together.
00:35Who was the other 5% to help make that come together?
00:37It's really just a group thing, you know, making a group chat.
00:40All the guys in there, you know, communicating who's coming, who's not.
00:44Just finding everybody's schedule.
00:46You know, Drake is really respectful of our time and stuff like that.
00:49So he didn't make it a force or anything like that.
00:51It was very, you know, brotherly.
00:53And who wants to come, who can't come, who's able.
00:55And so it was just a communication thing.
00:57So kind of a group thing.
00:58Drake was obviously the leader of it.
01:00You know, being in North Carolina was just great, though, man.
01:02Seeing him and his element where he grew up, you know, being around his family and stuff
01:06like that was just dope to build that connection off the field so the connection can maybe show
01:10on the field.
01:11There was a rumor you guys were in Tampa at one point.
01:13Was that false or was it just North Carolina?
01:15I think that's false.
01:16I was in Tampa by myself, but that's false.
01:19That's false.
01:19Okay.
01:20So you say that laughing.
01:22Yeah, what'd you do in Tampa?
01:23Are we sure?
01:24It's funny because I live in Tampa.
01:27So, you know, I made the YouTube video.
01:29So obviously, you know, people might have put it together like, well, it was on Bourne's channel.
01:33So and I'm usually in Tampa.
01:35So that's might have where the rumor came around.
01:37But no, we were just in North Carolina, though.
01:39Tampa's nice, though.
01:40Tampa's nice.
01:40This is my second year out there, man.
01:42The heat gets me ready for the camp.
01:45So it gets me good for me.
01:46Now, when you go short flight Tampa to North Carolina, you go first class or are you sitting in coach for that?
01:51Hey, man, I ain't gonna lie, man.
01:52I put myself at a higher standard, so I'm first class.
01:56But I got a funny story, man.
01:58I actually went out.
01:59I was so ready to work, man.
02:00I flew out a week early out to North Carolina.
02:03I text the group, and everybody was like, we think you're a week early, man.
02:06I was like, oh, shoot.
02:07So like you said, luckily, it was a short flight.
02:09And so I was able to fly right back.
02:11Drake was on his honeymoon.
02:13So I would have stayed maybe a day, hang out with him.
02:15But he was gone.
02:16So I felt so dumb, man.
02:17But it all worked out, man.
02:18I got right back out there next week.
02:21All right.
02:22So this is a crowded room now.
02:24Yeah.
02:24This receiver room on this team.
02:26Yeah.
02:26And we've been discussing the last couple of days how many receivers make the team.
02:30Do you have a number?
02:31Man, I definitely don't have a number, man.
02:33Like, you know, just human nature and, you know, just the experience that I have, I try
02:37to, like, you know, hash it out.
02:39Okay, who might make it?
02:39Who counts in?
02:40But honestly, man, the space I'm in right now, personally, man, I just let the cards play
02:44out.
02:44I just try to pour into the young guys, be that vet that can be supportive.
02:48You know what I'm saying?
02:48Like, I know it's a competition.
02:49We know it's a competition.
02:51How can we be different?
02:52How can we treat each other like brothers, but we're fighting for the same job?
02:55So just having that mindset, man, for me has been a piece in my mind.
02:59And hopefully the players can, you know, my teammates, the young guys can feel that, you
03:02know, just enjoy the moment, man.
03:03You never know what's going to happen.
03:04Try your hardest and, you know, let the chips fall where they may.
03:07I want to ask you about coming off that knee injury.
03:09You got two guys, two veteran players, you and Diggs, coming off the knee injury.
03:11I know Steph's cleared.
03:12Vrabel said, hey, everybody rehabs and heals differently.
03:16What was the hardest part for you?
03:19You know, okay, I'm fully cleared.
03:21I'm out there.
03:21Was it taking a hit?
03:22Was it running to cut off that leg?
03:24Yeah.
03:24What did you have to get past?
03:25That's a great question, man.
03:26I just didn't trust myself in a sense.
03:28It's like not having nobody around me, you know, doing rehab stuff was cool.
03:32But then when I got people around me, I kind of struggled in that time.
03:35So it was kind of good that I took those games off.
03:37But to Diggs, man, he just put in hard work, man.
03:40You know, the confidence is there.
03:42Shout out to his doctors and everybody that took care of him, man.
03:44They took care of him well.
03:45So you can see it.
03:46It's loud and clear.
03:47So I'm excited for him, man.
03:48But for me, it was just a different experience, man.
03:50So just to see him, man, just to keep encouraging him of how impressive it is, man.
03:54You know, using my story for somebody else's glory is really important, man.
03:57So, you know, I may have struggled a little bit, but it was all a different purpose in my life than it is for his.
04:02So it's just exciting to see.
04:04And I'm able to, me and him are able to give other players, you know, advice of how to take care of their bodies, avoid certain things, you know, prehabbing, avoiding injuries and stuff like that.
04:12I mean, it happens, but, you know, we just have that experience now to help others.
04:15Is there any player on this roster that is happier to have Josh McDaniels here than you?
04:21You know it's me, man.
04:22It's just exciting.
04:23I had a good talk with him first day back in the building, you know, just meeting with him, catching up, man.
04:28And it's just been dope.
04:29You know, I understand he knows the bigger picture.
04:31So, you know, whatever it looks like, you guys ask questions about the room, this and that, you know, I try to tell guys, you know, Josh has a plan.
04:37You got to find your way in Josh's plan.
04:39That's what matters.
04:40And so, just having that advice for guys, you know, not trying to keep it a secret, I'm here to help other people, too.
04:45You know, I know I have an advantage, yes.
04:47I have a relationship already, which is dope, but also still giving back, you know, game to the young guys, man, about this is how I found my role with Josh in 21.
04:55You know, because I didn't know I was going to look back then, and I found a role with him, and he made my game better.
05:00So, just telling the young guys that, and I'm definitely excited about it, though.
05:03I mean, what's better than having the boss like you?
05:06Do you know what I mean?
05:07There's probably nothing better than that in anyone's professional life, where the boss comes back, and it's like, oh, this guy's a fan of mine.
05:15I'm good.
05:16No, it's amazing.
05:17And the last four years, you know, just the things I've been through, man, after Josh left, I struggled at 22.
05:22And 23, I was having a good year, man, great year, tore my ACL.
05:25Then last year, coming back from ACL, it's just been a journey, man.
05:29And so, how it all is coming back together, you know, and how I feel internally with peace and being around Josh,
05:35knowing that he's going to have a good plan for us and stuff like that.
05:38Vrabes also, it's just, it kind of is already written, you know.
05:41It's kind of predestined.
05:42So, I'm just putting my best foot forward every day.
05:44No guarantees that I'll make the team.
05:46No guarantees that I'm going to have a great year.
05:48Just giving myself the best chance every day working hard.
05:50My last one for you real quick.
05:51Yes, sir.
05:51Is it the same protection, same formation, same play call that Josh?
05:56Yeah.
05:56Same system.
05:57Yep, same system.
05:58So, it's for the young guys learning, and then guys that are experienced with it, you know, it's the same.
06:02But just for us guys that have experience helping the young guys, you know,
06:05if we all can get on the same page, have the same communication, the same language, we're going to have a good year.
06:10You've got a big birthday coming up in a couple weeks.
06:12Yes, sir.
06:12That's a big round number for NFL players.
06:15Are you sweating that a little bit?
06:17No, man, I really don't worry about it, man.
06:18Like I said, guys, I've got a lot of peace right now, man.
06:21The body of work has been great, man.
06:22And so, just banking on that, man, and enjoying these last few rounds that I may have, and putting my best foot forward, man,
06:28so that I can, you know, be satisfied when I'm all said and done.
06:31All right, KB, catch some touchdowns, man.
06:32Thanks, guys.
06:32Thanks a lot.
06:33All right.
06:34Kendrick Bourne from field level here at Gillette.
