Kendrick Bourne might not love being called an Energizer Bunny, but you know what? That comparison to “E.B.” and his “always going” energy pretty much nails who KB is for the Arizona Cardinals. This dude is a walking, talking jolt of pure enthusiasm, and if you’ve been watching, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
The Coach’s Playbook for Energy
It’s no accident Bourne landed in Arizona. Head coach Mike LaFleur snagged him on the first day of negotiating for unrestricted free agents back in March, and he made it clear why. LaFleur had Bourne for four years, so he knows the deal. This wasn’t some buddy system signing where Bourne just *knows* what the coach thinks. Nah, LaFleur says Bourne is there because he can straight up help the Cardinals win games and move the ball. But the second, HUGE part? That infectious, relentless energy.
LaFleur sees it every single day, in the meeting rooms, on the practice field. There are no “highs and lows” with Bourne; he just lives in the high all the time. That’s his standard. That’s his norm. And LaFleur has seen firsthand how that kind of positivity impacts everyone else around him. Can he help move the ball? Absolutely. Does he practice exactly how they want? You bet. And that energy? It uplifts everyone. You gotta respect a coach who values that kind of consistent, positive force as much as raw talent.
The Receiver Room Is Buzzing
Even Marvin Harrison Jr. can’t stop talking about it. The guy says it himself: “Energy, man. Energy. KB is going to bring the energy.” Harrison admits that he and Mike Wilson are usually more chill, less overtly energetic. So Bourne comes in and completely changes the dynamic, and they’re eating it up. Harrison calls it “contagious,” getting everybody going a little more. When asked if Bourne ever needs to “take it down a notch,” Harrison just laughed! He said, “No, we need it. We need it. We need him to be him every day.” Think about that. Zero passes, five passes, it doesn’t matter; Bourne’s bringing that consistent fire. That’s a leader right there, leading through pure, unadulterated positive energy. It’s rare and it’s gold for a locker room.
It’s Just Who He Is
Bourne isn’t faking it either. He knows he’s the new guy, but he said the team knows it’s genuine. “It’s just who I am,” he explained. “It’s not fake. It’s not, I’m trying to fit in.” It’s about being positive, wanting good things for everybody, whether it’s Harrison, Wilson, or someone deep on the depth chart. The dude even said he’s got a custom handshake with every single receiver in the room. Every. Single. One. That’s not just energy; that’s building genuine connections, and that kind of teamwork, that kind of positive vibe, it’s literally priceless.
So what does all this mean for the Cardinals? When you’ve got a player who’s bringing that kind of consistent, uplifting energy every single day, it doesn’t just make practice better. It builds culture. It forges bonds. It could be the secret sauce that fuels them when things get tough. Keep an eye on Bourne, because that infectious attitude could be a huge factor in how this Cardinals season plays out. He’s not just catching passes; he’s catching vibes and spreading them around.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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