Kayshon Boutte is finding out the way to assault the vaunted Seahawks protection within the Tremendous Bowl, however the Patriots receiver says he additionally has massive aspirations for the offseason after he documented how he overcame a gambling addiction.
Boutte says he has his eyes on making a basis targeted on serving to people who find themselves battling playing habit, a well being concern that the third-year Patriot admits prompted him to lose $90,000 on bets and dwell “paycheck to paycheck” whereas in school.
The New England neighborhood has rallied round Boutte after the receiver admitted the challenges he endured amid his habit, sparked by an damage he suffered throughout a promising sophomore season at LSU following a standout freshman marketing campaign.
Boutte chronicled his challenges in a private essay revealed simply days earlier than the Patriots began their playoff run in early January. Playing habit specialists have credited the extensive receiver for altering lives.
Within the essay for The Gamers’ Tribune, titled “How The Hell Did I Get Right here???,” Boutte wrote about how he considers himself a modified man after overcoming his habit. He says recovering from his ankle damage to play soccer once more and turning into a father, as a junior in school, are the “solely two issues” that saved him.
Although the Patriots will head to Santa Clara on Sunday for a full week of Tremendous Bowl preparation, it’s clear that Boutte stays touched by the assist he has obtained from followers and the higher neighborhood after the essay got here out.
“Lots of people reached out to me, stated that they’ve been by the identical issues,” Boutte informed the Herald on Friday. “I understand how they really feel. I’ve been by it. They sort of requested me how I acquired by it, and I stated it was both soccer or that for me.”
Boutte recounted how the Gamers’ Tribune reached out to him, desirous to collaborate. He stated it was the primary time he ever sat with any individual to speak about every part he went by, and he determined to write down the essay, although it wasn’t simple.
In January 2024, after his first season, Boutte was arrested on underage playing and fraud expenses for betting whereas at LSU. Louisiana officers dropped the fees in July 2024 after the receiver accomplished a playing consciousness program and executed self-ban agreements in Massachusetts and with a number of sportsbook corporations.
“I feel lots of people don’t actually have one thing larger from the place they’re at proper now,” he informed the Herald, “so that they really feel like they’re caught at that very same loop, that they really feel down, and that the one method to get it again is thru playing.”
Boutte has emerged as a high downfield goal for QB Drake Maye. The 23-year-old has recorded probably the most memorable performs of the Patriots’ postseason, catching a 32-yard, one-handed touchdown within the 28-16 divisional-round win over Houston.
In his essay, Boutte wrote that he owes “every part” to the Patriots group for trusting him to develop. Serving to New England to a formidable 14-3 turnaround, the LSU product broke out within the common season with 33 catches, 551 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Boutte stopped by DICKS’ Home of Sport in Boston Friday night time, signing autographs and assembly lots of of followers. It marked his second journey to the shop in as many months. The receiver hosted a surprise holiday shopping spree in December.
Roland Hegedus, 19, of Boston, referred to as it loopy to satisfy Boutte and stated that he respects how the Patriot opened up about how he overcame the playing habit.
“It’s necessary as a result of loads of the time, individuals actually don’t like admitting that stuff,” Hegedus informed the Herald. “Going through the actions of your previous, you turn out to be a greater individual as a complete.”
Boston resident Eddie Tigges, who introduced his son Nicholas to satisfy Boutte with a bunch of pals, added, “It reveals to followers, particularly younger followers, that even you probably have points, you possibly can nonetheless overcome them and what you make of it afterward in life.”
