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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Robert Zeglinski

Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne cleverly used a reporter’s harsh critique to take a shot

Kendrick Bourne Patriots Mike Giardi New England (Organization)

On paper, the New England Patriots don’t exactly seem rife with wide receiver talent. Free agent addition JuJu Smith-Schuster — a possession playmaker — projects to be the No. 1 target in a passing offense also expecting (hoping for?) a big leap from sophomore flanker Tyquan Thornton.

Such a situation had reporter Mike Giardi rip the Patriots’ receivers during a training camp analysis video with NBC Sports Boston. The part of Giardi’s criticism that stuck out the most was his description of New England’s skill position talent: “Stink, stank, stunk.”

After Patriots training camp practice Sunday, Bourne was asked for his thoughts on New England’s receiving room. He kept it simple: He reused Giardi’s words against him to take a jab.

I don’t know that I disagree with the general sentiment of Giardi’s thought process. The Patriots’ receiving room, on paper, is indeed one of the worst in the NFL. However, Giardi probably shouldn’t be surprised that a professional athlete might highlight the Grinch-related/referenced harshness. He might have taken that a little far.

This was how how Twitter reacted

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