DeMario Douglas shares high lesson he realized from Bourne

Patriots

“It doesn’t matter what I am going via, simply are available right here and smile. That may put a smile on any person else’s face.”

FOXBOROUGH — DeMario Douglas’ place on New England’s roster has been safe all summer season because the third-year professional continues to construct a powerful rapport with Drake Maye. 

However that didn’t make roster cutdown day any simpler for Douglas to bear this week, on condition that the dynamic slot receiver noticed a number of of his teammates in Foxborough clear out their lockers after getting the dangerous information. 

A kind of roster cuts was veteran wideout Kendrick Bourne, who was launched by New England on Wednesday morning after the Patriots have been reportedly unable to discover a commerce suitor for the 30-year-old.

Bourne was hindered by accidents over his ultimate few seasons in Foxborough, lacking 14 video games because the begin of the 2023 marketing campaign. Nonetheless, Douglas stated that Bourne had a profound influence on him as he discovered his personal footing within the NFL ranks. 

“That one hurts,” Douglas stated. “That man, he introduced vitality and nothing however smiles. However that is how the sport goes. , you get near any person, and the following day they may very well be gone. But it surely’s okay, as a result of I do know he’s gonna land someplace.”

For Douglas, Bourne’s affect goes past giving him tips about the gridiron. Fairly, the 24-year-old wideout stated than Bourne’s method as a professional athlete is one thing that he tries to emulate. 

“I’d simply say, man, it doesn’t matter what you’re going via — he got here in with a smile on his face,” Douglas stated of the highest lesson he realized from Bourne. “So I really feel like he doesn’t present when he’s down. I really feel like that’s a power. 

“So I realized that. Coming in right here, it doesn’t matter what I’m going via, simply are available right here and smile. That may put a smile on any person else’s face.”

With each Bourne and Javon Baker launched on Wednesday, the Patriots nonetheless have six wideouts nonetheless on their roster in Douglas, Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism. 

Even with all the turnover over the previous few days, Douglas believes that New England’s wideout room is poised to take a step ahead this fall. 

“Man, the completely different personalities. It’s enjoyable with these guys,” Douglas stated of New England’s pass-catchers. “You bought completely different personalities — you bought Mack Hollins, who’s completely different from [Diggs]. And nice leaders.

“[I] really feel like we’ve acquired nice management in our room. And [wide receivers coach Todd Downing] — I really feel like he’s been doing an excellent job with us. And he’s acquired that QB and offensive-coordinator mindset too. In order that’s what makes our room higher.” 

 

Conor Ryan is a workers author masking the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Crimson Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.