The 2023 season is officially being put in the rearview mirror for the New England Patriots , as they followed up Sunday's loss to the New York Jets with locker room clean-out and exit meetings on Monday.
However, even with many taking this time to think over their football future, Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne is still publicly lobbying for his return.
A week after the 28-year-old receiver made his wishes to stay in Foxboro known in the comment section of a teammate's Instagram post, Bourne took it a step further on Monday by posting a picture to his Instagram Story of Gillette Stadium with a caption that makes it somewhat clear where he wants to be next season.
“Hopefully see you soon,” Bourne wrote.
After spending the second half of the season recovering from the torn ACL injury he suffered in the Patriots Week 8 loss to the Miami Dolphins, Bourne has certainly had a lot of time to think about what comes next. And while his third season in New England didn't go the way he may have wanted it to go, he doesn't want it to be his last in Foxboro despite his expiring contract.
A potential contract extension for Bourne felt unlikely a year ago, as following his breakout season with the Patriots in 2021, he found himself as an outcast in the offense run by then-play-caller Matt Patricia. At the time, it seemed more likely that Bourne would be traded away from New England rather than just simply finishing out his contract.
Yet, the latter proved to be the case, as the hiring of Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator provided the 28-year-old with a much-needed "fresh start."
Under O'Brien, Bourne was once again in a prominent position within the Patriots offense as he was on his way to surpassing his down year in just eight games with 406 yards and four touchdowns on 37 receptions before the season-ending injury.
For a Patriots offense that was one of the worst in the league this past season, bringing back one of their top playmakers should seem like a no-brainer, especially if it comes with a discounted deal. However, with the uncertainty of Bill Belichick's future as not only the Patriots' de-facto general manager but also as the coach, any potential extension for Bourne is on hold.
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