“You’re better than me, but I work harder than you”
Cooper Kupp is so good that he’s not only responsible for his own career, but also another eight-year NFL veteran receiver: Former Eastern Washington teammate and potential future Patriots teammate Kendrick Bourne.
Kupp is expected to be released on Wednesday and the Patriots, Bourne’s current team, are thought to be one of his best fits as a free agent. If Kupp does go to New England, it will reunite teammates who were not supposed to still be playing football so long after playing at an FCS. And Bourne’s career may be largely thanks to tough advice from Kupp.
“You’re a better player than me, I just work harder than you.”
On “The Money Down” podcast, Bourne said “that’s a big statement from somebody that’s the best in the league” and noted that this advice came way before Cooper Kupp became one of the best wide receivers in the NFL and in the history of college football.
Cooper Kupp knows how to get the best out #Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne:
“He talked to me and he told me like, ‘Bro you a better player than me, I just work harder than you.’ And that’s a big statement from somebody that’s the best in the league…
This is somebody that’s talking… pic.twitter.com/GX9gmbolLR
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) March 12, 2025
Kupp set all kinds of national records at Eastern Washington prior to being a third round pick of the Rams in 2017 and winning Super Bowl MVP/Offensive Player of the Year in 2021. His contract number will end up being reason for the end of his career in L.A., not his abilities.
The Patriots are an obvious destination, where Kupp could help mold second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
Bourne went undrafted the same year that Kupp was drafted, signing a deal with the San Francisco 49ers and playing in 11 games that year. He worked his way into a regular role for Kyle Shanahan and then signed with the Patriots as a free agent in 2021, gaining a career-high 800 yards that season. Bourne is signed for 2025 at a cap hit of $7.7 million and so far there hasn’t been any news of the team parting ways with him for cap savings, which would be almost $5 million.
If Bourne is still in New England though, he’ll definitely try to recruit Kupp to the Patriots and vice versa. If for no other reason to show Kupp how hard he works now.
