Kendrick Bourne is about to start his third season with the New England Patriots, but there were times this summer when it seemed like he wouldn't make it this far.
After a disappointing 2022 season and after the Patriots added several new receivers, Bourne was talked about as a trade candidate all summer.
Even so, the Patriots never stopped believing in Bourne and are said to have turned down teams that wanted to sign him.
For Bourne, Bill Belichick's vote of trust as coach and general manager means everything.
I appreciate Bill... Bill stuck with me," Bourne said to MassLive.com. "I had a hard time last year, and he has always pushed me to do better.
The goal is always to get better. Every day, I feel like Bill gives me hope. Where I can improve.
I like that because he could have just said, "Whatever," and that would have been fine with me. But he always tries to push me. I want to work as hard as I ever have this year.
"It's nice to feel wanted. I'm happy to be here, and I think this is where I should be. "That's what's been going on."
Belichick used to give the "forgotten" player a lot of praise. The coach who has won six Super Bowls said earlier this month that Bourne had done well during the summer in "all aspects of the game.