The New England Patriots faced scrutiny after benching wide receiver Kendrick Bourne during their Week 10 victory against the Chicago Bears, raising questions about the team's decision-making.
Despite Bourne being viewed as a key player, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt's explanation seemed contradictory, as he acknowledged Bourne's importance while citing areas for improvement.
With Bourne's recent return from injury and a contract extension, the decision to bench him has led to speculation that the Patriots should have considered trading him instead.