Every year around this time, reporters go up to New England Patriots players and ask if they have any fond holiday memories they’d like to share.

Most of the time, it’s a nice little anecdote about getting a bike or spending time with family. Kendrick Bourne went in a different direction.

“I got a funny one. My parents got me and my brothers a trash can for Christmas. That was the worst,” Bourne said with a laugh. “We needed it though. We actually needed it for our room. So it was good.”

A trash can? For Christmas?

“That’s messed up,” teammate Pop Douglas said when he heard the story.

Forget football. That was now the center of discussion.

One reporter chimed in with some dry humor: “Did your parents have hearts? That’s the next question.“

“Barely,” Bourne responded with a laugh. “We needed to clean our room. I think they were sending us a signal. It was the best gift, a gift we needed. But probably the worst gift at the same time.”

Bourne said it was a standard kitchen trash can with no presents inside.

“Put the trash in there. Clean your room,” he said.

The veteran receiver said that he and his brothers did in fact use the trash can to clean their room. More importantly, he looks back at the memory fondly.

“Crazy childhood,” Bourne said with a laugh. “Love my parents. Shout out — hi, mom and dad. Love you guys.”

It’s all good between Bourne and his parents. But one reporter did have a good idea: maybe the receiver should get his parents a trash can for Christmas.

“That’s a good one,” Bourne said. “Yeah, they want my money, so I’m gonna give them something they’re not expecting.”