If the Patriots regret their decision to bench Kendrick Bourne until the fourth quarter in their season-opener on Sunday, Bill Belichick — predictably — was not going to say anything about it.
“We did what we thought was best,” Belichick said shortly.
Bourne participated in the skirmishes between the Patriots and Panthers during the preseason and may have found himself on Belichick’s bad side as a result. Belichick was asked if the benching was disciplinary.
“No,” Belichick said without expanding further.
When Bourne finally entered the game, he made an immediate impact — snagging a 41-yard reception on his first (and only) target of the day and just his second play from scrimmage.