"Still, Douglas said that Bourne had a profound impact on him as he found his own footing in the NFL ranks. "That one hurts," Douglas said. "That guy, he brought energy and nothing but smiles. But this is how the game goes. You know, you get close to somebody, and the next day they could be gone. But it's okay, because I know he's gonna land somewhere.""
""I'd just say, man, no matter what you're going through - he came in with a smile on his face," Douglas said of the top lesson he learned from Bourne. "So I feel like he doesn't show when he's down. I feel like that's a strength. "So I learned that. Coming in here, no matter what I'm going through, just come in here and smile. That can put a smile on somebody else's face.""
DeMario Douglas remained secure on the Patriots roster but felt the emotional impact of roster cutdown day as teammates were released. Veteran wideout Kendrick Bourne was released after the team could not find a trade suitor, having missed significant time due to injuries. Douglas credited Bourne with bringing energy and constant smiles, saying Bourne influenced his approach to professionalism and camaraderie. Douglas emphasized learning to mask personal struggles with a positive presence to lift others. With Bourne and Javon Baker released, the Patriots entered the season with six wideouts including Douglas and Stefon Diggs.
Read at Boston.com
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