FOXBORO — Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte said Wednesday he apologized to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt after criticizing the offense’s approach in last weekend’s loss at Arizona.
Less than an hour after the 30-17 defeat, Boutte bemoaned the team’s game plan against a Cardinals defense that held the Patriots to three points entering the fourth quarter.
“We knew they were gonna play man (coverage) the whole game. But I feel like it’s disrespectful when they go man first quarter, you know? So I feel like we need to be better at attacking that instead of being shy about it,” Boutte said.
On Wednesday, Boutte told reporters he regretted his comments.
“Nobody likes losing. It was frustration I had lingering from the game into the post-game interview. I feel like I was wrong for what I said,” Boutte said. “It wasn’t the right way to handle it, go about it. But like I said, that was my fault and I take accountability for it.”
During the loss, Boutte caught two of five targets for 19 yards. He also deflected one pass into Arizona hands for an interception in the third quarter. Boutte played more snaps than all other Patriots receivers that day, and said he approached his offensive coordinator after the loss, something Jerod Mayo also did after his own comments related to the offense.
“I’m sorry for the way the message came across,” Boutte said. “Like I said, I went about it the wrong way. Instead of going on about it to the media, I should’ve just came to (Van Pelt).’”
After earning praise from Van Pelt midseason, Boutte’s production has slowed. He has just six catches for 66 yards in the Patriots’ last three games. On the season, he’s compiled 27 receptions for 349 yards and a touchdown.
The 22-year-old was publicly critical of Van Pelt’s coaching before Sunday. After the Patriots’ home loss to Houston in Week 6, when he caught a 40-yard touchdown from Drake Maye, Boutte called out the play-calling.
“I feel like we’re not aggressive enough as we’re supposed to be,” he said post-game. “And I feel like we just need to be more aggressive, because I feel like times where we are aggressive, the ball is actually moving and we’re getting places.”
Boutte and the Patriots are now preparing for Sunday’s road kickoff at Buffalo. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m.
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