Patriots
“We just have to hold each other accountable. That’s kind of what Bentley was doing.”
The 2024 Patriots are in danger of completely unraveling just seven weeks into the season.
Not only has New England lost six straight games and sit at the bottom of the AFC East, but several off-the-field distractions have plagued a team already in apparent disarray.
Be it Jerod Mayo’s decision to initially label his team as “soft” on Sunday, several wide receivers airing out their grievances online and through the media, and questions hovering over Mayo’s job security, things seem to be spiraling in Foxborough.
As such, Patriots defensive captain Ja’Whaun Bentley reportedly took it upon himself to take his teammates to task in a spirited, closed-door meeting on Thursday.
“We just have to hold each other accountable. That’s kind of what Bentley was doing – addressing the elephant in the room,” wide receiver Kendrick Bourne told MassLive’s Mark Daniels on Thursday. “’Bro, just be careful.’ You can speak how you feel. I’m mad we’re 1-6. I hate it. But you’re not going to see Kendrick Bourne go out there and not dance. I’m going to dance. That’s who I am. My frustration is not changing who I am. I’m not going to fake being mad. That’s not who I am.
“Just those little details of ‘Keep being who you are. Don’t change.’ It’s about your question to holding each other accountable. Be careful when you say that. Be careful when you post that. It’s looking out for your brothers and keep staying together. Things are trying to break us apart and we have to stay together.”
The Patriots are already facing an uphill climb when it comes to righting the ship on the gridiron. But they’re also making what was already expected to be a rebuilding year even more arduous with several outspoken comments and social-media postings.
Bourne also raised eyebrows after Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars in London when he told Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald that players needed to be more responsible with their off-the-field preparation.
“That’s personal decisions; rather than staying up all night or eating whatever,” Bourne told Callahan. “Whatever it it is, whatever makes us be better, we have to make those decisions to be better, so when we get (to the game) we can be better.”
Speaking on Thursday morning, Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt also acknowledged that Bentley’s address included hard truths about off-field habits and accountability.
“We had a really great team meeting this morning where that was pointed out,” Van Pelt said. “At 1-6, it’s not good across the board. We need to be better. We need to work harder. We need to rehab harder. Refresh better. Take care of ourselves and spend more time in the room. So, a good meeting this morning. Demanding more of everyone across the board and those guys (receivers) are included.”
While Bentley’s meeting seemed to address several concerning trends that have hindered New England as of late, it still falls on the players themselves to change the narrative with a bounce-back performance on Sunday against the Jets.
“Bentley talked to us as a leader on our team. It hits home when a player talks,” Bourne told Daniels. “Our coach can talk, coaches can tell us the plays on the field. At the end of the day, we have to make the plays. Just like off the field, Bentley speaking to us and putting the mirror in our face as a group, it hit home. It wasn’t out of frustration – it was just more of ‘what are we going to do about it?’”
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