New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne doesn’t seem to care if you read between the lines.

Bourne took accountability after taking a step back last season following a promising first year in New England. He also went out of his way to praise new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien for seemingly obvious qualities.

“Bill’s familiar with what he’s doing, so it feels good,” Bourne said Friday after organized team activities practices. “You can tell he knows what he’s doing in all areas of the offense — receiver, linemen, running back. He knows offense a lot, so it feels good.”

“He’s doing well. He knows how to engage with all of us, I feel like,” Bourne said in a follow-up question. “He knows our traits right now and he knows where to put us, so it’s been good. We’re still learning each other as a group, but he’s doing well. You can tell he knows what he’s doing.”

Being familiar with one’s job, having familiarity with all areas of an offense, knowing how to engage with players and knowing what to do should be prerequisites for an offensive coordinator. They might not have been last season when defensive specialist Matt Patricia and special teams expert Joe Judge were running the offense. Bourne seemed to fall out of favor with those who were running the unit last season and saw his numbers decline from 55 catches, 800 yards and five touchdown in 2021 under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to 35 catches, 434 yards and one touchdown in 2022. He played 51.8 percent of snaps in 2021 and 41.9 percent last season.

He also made comments that seemed critical of New England’s offensive play-calling after a loss to the Buffalo Bills last season, saying the Patriots needed to “scheme up better.”

This was pointed out to Bourne by NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran, who said, “When you say that, we are inevitably going to say, ‘Well, does he mean that last year was — so that’s what we’re going to end up doing that that.”

“No doubt,” Bourne responded. “It just feels good. Change is good. It’s something we needed, I feel like. It’s good. It feels good so far, so yeah, if that’s what it’s gonna be, then it’s better so far.”

Credit to Bourne for being transparent. But the guy who appointed Patricia and Judge in those positions is still head coach. Patricia is now a senior defensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles, but Judge is still on staff in a prominent special teams role.

Bourne is happy to put 2022 in the rearview mirror.

“New year, new me, new us, new everything,” Bourne said. “That’s what we’re focused on, so that’s the goal every year is to move forward and be better.”

Patriots tight end Hunter Henry acknowledged Friday that O’Brien’s offense is more similar to what McDaniels was running in 2021. That’s what New England should be hoping for. Quarterback Mac Jones, Bourne, Henry and the entire unit were better that season.

Bourne is happy with how the offense is coming together.

“Just being fast, man. Just being a consistent, not being one-dimensional,” Bourne said. “Just being very versatile in what we do, intermediate, long, short, just doing everything. …

“It feels good. It feels fast. Just exciting. Everybody’s on the same page. You can feel the growth already, so that’s the most exciting part. I feel like we’re going to know exactly what we’re doing and who we are, figuring out who we are quickly.”

It’s at least worth noting that free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is scheduled to visit next week. New England’s interest is real and serious. And if the Patriots sign Hopkins, then it seems more probable than not that a wide receiver would be removed from the team via trade or release. The Patriots have two candidates in Bourne ($5,455,882) and DeVante Parker ($6,206,250) who would also clear out significant cap space.

It seems doubtful that the Patriots would move on from Bourne for comments made to the media. If that was the case, then they would have cut or traded him last year or in the offseason. But addition comes with inevitable subtraction, and New England could use some cap relief if they do sign Hopkins.

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