Patriots
“No matter what I’m going through, just come in here and smile. That can put a smile on somebody else’s face.”
FOXBOROUGH — DeMario Douglas’ place on New England’s roster has been secure all summer as the third-year pro continues to build a strong rapport with Drake Maye.
But that didn’t make roster cutdown day any easier for Douglas to bear this week, given that the dynamic slot receiver saw several of his teammates in Foxborough clean out their lockers after getting the bad news.
One of those roster cuts was veteran wideout Kendrick Bourne, who was released by New England on Wednesday morning after the Patriots were reportedly unable to find a trade suitor for the 30-year-old.
Bourne was hindered by injuries over his final few seasons in Foxborough, missing 14 games since the start of the 2023 campaign. Still, Douglas said that Bourne had a profound impact on him as he found his own footing in the NFL ranks.
“That one hurts,” Douglas said. “That guy, he brought energy and nothing but smiles. But this is how the game goes. You know, you get close to somebody, and the next day they could be gone. But it’s okay, because I know he’s gonna land somewhere.”
For Douglas, Bourne’s influence goes beyond giving him pointers on the gridiron. Rather, the 24-year-old wideout said than Bourne’s approach as a pro athlete is something that he tries to emulate.
“I’d just say, man, no matter what you’re going through — he came in with a smile on his face,” Douglas said of the top lesson he learned from Bourne. “So I feel like he doesn’t show when he’s down. I feel like that’s a strength.
“So I learned that. Coming in here, no matter what I’m going through, just come in here and smile. That can put a smile on somebody else’s face.”
With both Bourne and Javon Baker released on Wednesday, the Patriots still have six wideouts still on their roster in Douglas, Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism.
Even with all of the turnover over the last few days, Douglas believes that New England’s wideout room is poised to take a step forward this fall.
“Man, the different personalities. It’s fun with these guys,” Douglas said of New England’s pass-catchers. “You got different personalities — you got Mack Hollins, who’s different from [Diggs]. And great leaders.
“[I] feel like we’ve got great leadership in our room. And [wide receivers coach Todd Downing] — I feel like he’s been doing a great job with us. And he’s got that QB and offensive-coordinator mindset too. So that’s what makes our room better.”
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