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KENDRICK BOURNE REVEALS THE STRICT DISCIPLINE THAT SPARKED THE PATRIOTS' TURNAROUND

Kendrick Bourne speaks out! Discover why he thinks Mike Vrabel is the right fit and why he’s eyeing a 2026 return to the 49ers.

Kendrick Bourne reveals the strict discipline that sparked the Patriots' turnaround
Kendrick Bourne tops the list of receivers San Francisco wants to retain

Kendrick Bourne’s path through the NFL has zigzagged all over – some highs, plenty of lows, and now, another fresh start. He took a shot with the Patriots in 2025 after building his reputation with the 49ers. But honestly, that New England chapter ended before it even got going. Bourne didn’t just slip out the back door. He left with a lot to say about what he saw brewing in New England as Mike Vrabel took charge.

Once Vrabel arrived, you didn’t need to listen for rumours about a culture shift; it was obvious. Bourne noticed right away. He’s already got his eyes set on home, back with the 49ers, but even from a distance, he could see the Patriots were heading somewhere new long before their record showed it.

Talking about his exit from New England, Bourne didn’t sugarcoat anything. Losing the job itself wasn’t the hardest part. What stung was watching Vrabel put his stamp on the team, laying down the kind of structure and discipline Bourne knew would eventually pay off. He was blunt; things just felt different under Vrabel compared to before.

He put it like this: “After going through OTAs and camp with Vrabes, you just knew. Nothing against Mayo, but he just wasn’t ready. With Vrabes, the structure was totally different in how we studied, how we met, and just the whole vibe. Honestly, I was sad about it.”

This wasn’t just a guy being bitter. Bourne respected what was happening in New England and genuinely wished he could have been part of it, especially with a Super Bowl push on the horizon. He even admitted he’d wanted to be in that locker room when the Patriots finally made it back to the big stage.

Now he’s back with the 49ers, hoping to stick around. At 30, Bourne wants a new contract in San Francisco. He had a solid 2025, racked up 551 yards, picked up a contract bonus, and gave the offence a spark. The 49ers needed reliable hands, and Bourne delivered. He’s clear: he wants to stay, but only if the deal makes sense for him.

So now, the offseason gets interesting. Bourne knows where he fits best, but he’s still keeping an eye on what’s building in New England. That mix of looking back and chasing what’s next makes this part of his career one to pay attention to.

MRI SCARE: STEVE KERR ADMITS STEPH CURRY’S "NEBULOUS" KNEE MAY REQUIRE SECOND IMAGING

Warriors crisis! Discover why Steph Curry may need another MRI and how Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear shifts GSW to the play-in.

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Warriors star to undergo new MRI as knee pain lingers

The Warriors have been scrambling since Jimmy Butler went down with that ACL tear. He’s done for the year, and now Stephen Curry has to carry the offence on his own.

Right after the All-Star break, the Warriors are sitting in eighth place out West. That’s already shaky, and now Curry’s dealing with a knee injury too. The team calls it runner's knee; basically, he just needs time to heal. But then Steve Kerr gave an update that didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

Turns out, Curry might need another MRI. He tried to push through a full workout, but his knee just wasn’t right. Now, they’re waiting on imaging to figure out how long he’ll actually be out.

Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis still hasn’t suited up for Golden State. If Curry misses significant time, everyone else needs to step up in a big way. The Warriors already have one of the most average offences in the league, 15th at the break. No curry, and things get ugly fast. He’s already missed 16 games this season, and the team went 6-10 without him.

Losing Butler already knocked the Warriors out of serious contention. They’re pretty much locked into the play-in. Unless Curry suddenly goes supernova, it’s hard to see them catching the Thunder or making any real noise out West.

So, what’s next? The front office tried to swing big at the deadline, going after Giannis Antetokounmpo, though who knows if the Bucks ever really considered it. Giannis stayed put, but you can bet the Warriors will chase him again this summer.

If that doesn’t work, they’ll turn to other stars. They know the championship window is closing with Curry still on the roster. He’s still elite, but time’s ticking.

LeBron James even comes up as a possibility. If he declines his player option and hits free agency, maybe he’d team up with Curry for one last run at a ring.

Most likely, though, Golden State will look at trades instead of free agents to try to reload. Curry’s health isn’t what it used to be, and the Warriors know they have to make the most of whatever prime he’s got left.

RORY MCILROY SLAMS RIVIERA’S MASSIVE 273-YARD PAR-3 AHEAD OF GENESIS KICKOFF

Rory McIlroy is fuming! Discover why he called Riviera’s new 273-yard par-3 a "horrible change" ahead of the 2026 Genesis Invitational.

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Rory calls the new 273-yard fourth hole a "horrible change."

Rory McIlroy isn’t exactly happy about Riviera’s move to stretch the par-3 fourth hole.

The 2026 Genesis Invitational hasn’t even started yet, but Rory’s already got bones to pick with the course. Before anyone’s even teed off, he called out the decision to bump the fourth hole up to 273 yards. He didn’t mince words, either, calling it a “horrible change". He’s not the only one grumbling, either. Usually, pro golfers can get a little whiny about stuff, but honestly, this time, they might be right.

The fourth at Riviera was always a beast, even at 230 yards. The green slopes hard from front to back, and even the best players in the world struggled just to hold the putting surface with their tee shots. Balls would skip off the back all the time, and if you tried to land it short, that sticky kikuyu rough would just eat it up. Forget about running one up; good luck with that.

Back in 2024, the last time Riviera hosted the tournament, players only managed to hit the green in regulation 15.4 per cent of the time. They finished a whopping 49 over par for the week, according to Jamie Kennedy at Golf Digest. For context, the PGA Tour average for greens in regulation is almost 70 per cent. So yeah, the hole was already tough.

But Riviera still went ahead and made it even longer, pushing it from 230 to 273 yards. McIlroy isn’t hiding how he feels.

“I actually think it’s a horrible change,” he saidon  Wednesday. “Only 15 per cent of the field hit the green last time when it was 230 yards. If you want a 275-yard par 3, you have to change the apron in front of the green. You can’t keep the Kikuyu; you've got to use something else so you can actually run the ball on it. Because if you’re trying to fly a 3-iron onto that green in the right conditions, it’s just going to end up on the fifth tee box.”

Sure, McIlroy’s caught some flak before for complaining about courses, but honestly, he’s got a point. The hole was borderline unfair before. Now? Par will feel like a miracle.

He’s not alone, either. Jordan Spieth chimed in, calling it “the only weak spot on the course” this week. Collin Morikawa, fresh off a win at Pebble Beach, talked about how hard it’ll be this year, too.

“It’s just too soft to control much,” he said. “A lot of us play it left to chip uphill, but with a 3-wood, that cart path on the left actually comes into play because it gets so much harder to control. It’ll be very interesting.”

So, no, it won’t be fun for the players. But for fans? Watching the chaos should be a blast. The 2026 Genesis Invitational kicks off Thursday at 10:15 a.m. ET. Grab your popcorn. 

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