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

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.

"What have you seen at the receiver position?"

"Stink, stank, and stunk."@MikeGiardi not holding back breaking down what he's seen from the Patriots' wide receivers in camp so far pic.twitter.com/fV2fBEb4BW

— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) August 1, 2023

Kendrick Bourne with a slight jab to a reporter when asked about the #Patriots WR room

“Stink, stunk and stank.” pic.twitter.com/D5SjAC1S5A

— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) August 6, 2023

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.