FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots are at a breaking point.
Following a disappointing blowout loss in London, the Patriots have lost six straight games and head into this week’s matchup with a dismal 1-6 record. At this point, the cracks are more than showing.
That’s why Ja’Whaun Bentley took it upon himself to address the Patriots and coaching staff during a team meeting on Thursday morning. The veteran linebacker and captain, who’s out for the season, spoke up about players speaking out to the media, on social media and ways his teammates can better themselves off the field.
“We just have to hold each other accountable. That’s kind of what Bentley was doing – addressing the elephant in the room,” Kendrick Bourne told MassLive. “’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.”
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Bentley was likely referring to several Patriots receivers speaking out against the team or on social media. After the team’s loss in London, Ja’Lynn Polk posted a peace sign on his Instagram story. This week, Kayshon Boutte and K.J. Osborn both vented their frustration with their roles on offense.
Outside of Gillette Stadium, people are piling on Jerod Mayo and his team. The coach drew the ire of Bill Belichick and other pundits when he said the Patriots were “soft” after their loss to the Jaguars.
After that game, Bourne told the Boston Herald that he felt his teammates lacked energy in London. When asked how to fix that, the receiver said, “That’s personal decisions; rather than staying up all night or eating whatever.”
On Wednesday, Bentley also talked to his teammates about their off-field habits and how what they did could impact how they play on the weekends.
“We had a really great team meeting this morning where that was pointed out,” offensive coordinator Alex 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.”
With the Patriots struggling, and riding a tough losing streak, Bentley decided to step up on Thursday morning. He explained to his teammates that it was up to them to change the narrative.
“It was a really good meeting,” Osborn said. “Something everybody, players, coaches, staff, everybody kind of needed to hear. That’s something we want to keep in house, but it was good.”
“Bentley talked to us as a leader on our team. It hits home when a player talks,” Bourne added. “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?’”
