Patriots vs Bears MNF storylines, Tom Brady, and Kendrick Bourne rumors

With a 3-3 record, the New England Patriots will hope to continue their winning ways when they take on Justin Fields, N’Keal Harry and the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football from the lovely confines of Gillette Stadium.

This may not be a marquee matchup, but there are a few storylines to watch.  Let’s start with the return of Mac Jones.

According to multiple sources, including Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Patriots second-year quarterback will be available and will look to play on Monday Night barring a setback.  This is worth watching because it is ultimately up to Bill Belichick on whether Jones plays.

Will the Patriots coach stay with the hot hand in a fully healthy Bailey Zappe or will he go back to Jones, who is only close to 100 percent.  Belichick’s decision will show where the team stands with Mac Jones either way.  If he plays, how will he look?  If he doesn’t play, will that put a crack in the relationship between the quarterback and the team?  Stay tuned.

Former Patriots first-round pick N’Keal Harry returns to Foxborough

Another storyline to watch is the return of N’Keal Harry.  The 2018 first-round pick was traded to the Bears this offseason and is looking to make a statement against his former team.

In recognizing where things went wrong, Harry is excited to step back on the field to face the Patriots and is obviously not trying to add fuel to the fire.

"“I’m trying not to get too caught up in it being the Patriots and it being my former team,” Harry said of his return to Foxborough.  “I’m obviously excited, excited to see some of my guys.”"

It should be noted that Harry hasn’t done much with the Bears.  He is coming off injured reserve due to an ankle injury and has yet to play a regular season snap in a Bears’ uniform until Monday Night.  It should be interesting indeed.

A familiar situation for ex-Patriots quarterback Tom Brady

One of the lowlights of Week 7 was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers losing to the Carolina Panthers, 21-3.  The talk of Sunday and obviously Twitter was how Tom Brady came out of retirement to have an underwhelming season.

In going 32-of-49 for 290 yards, the former Patriots quarterback is starting to look like a man on the path to retirement.  But, as Patriots fans we know that every time this man is counted out, he somehow ends up on top by the end of the season.  Is this time different given his off-the-field turmoil with wife Gisele Bündchen?

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If it is not the distraction, it is certainly one of the distractions in Brady’s play over the last few weeks.  With talent around him like Mike Evans and Julio Jones when he returns, no one should be counting Brady and the Buccaneers out, but if the quarterback’s head is not in it, it is safe to say that this will be the last season of Brady.

NFL rumors: Patriots set on keeping Kendrick Bourne, or are they?

With the NFL Trade Deadline approaching, there have been a few New England Patriots players popping up on the trade rumor mill.  One of those players is wide receiver Kendrick Bourne.

There is really no shock here, especially since Bourne has been in the doghouse most of the season.  With the veteran receiver out due to a turf toe Monday Night, speculation of a possible trade has only heightened.  Will the Patriots deal one of their most consistent playmakers from a season ago?

If the price is right or even if it isn’t, Belichick is not afraid to pull the trigger if he believes it is the right move for his football team.  While Patriots fans may disagree, if Bourne is not going to be a part of the offensive plan, it is probably best to deal him now rather than have him standing on the sidelines disgruntled.

With Jakobi Meyers, DeVante Parker and now Tyquan Thornton making plays, the Patriots could afford to part ways with either Bourne or Nelson Agholor. Again, the question is will they and if they do which team will they make a deal with.

So far this season, Bourne has just 11 receptions for 156 yards in limited playing time.