As I sit here watching the New England Patriots run over, through and around the Indianapolis Colts on their way to the Super Bowl, I can’t help but wonder if the guy doing most of that running wasn’t there by coincidence or conspiracy.
53 weeks ago, LeGarrette Blount ran roughshod over the Colts in the AFC Divisional Playoffs last year. Following the season, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
His largest impacts for the Steelers were a 100-yard game against Carolina and a marijuana charge. He then decided to leave the field early in a Steelers’ win over Tennessee and was promptly released by the team.
It was reported that Blount was both a poor influence on Le’Veon Bell and was a cancer in the locker room. His premature exit in Nashville was the final nail in his coffin.
Yet, within days, there was Blount being re-signed by the Patriots who had just seen their own running back Jonas Gray, run for 200 yards against those same Colts. He has seen the field little since then.
I can’t help but wonder if LeGarrette Blount returning to New England wasn’t part of a plan all along. Once the Patriots realized he wasn’t being used much in the Steel City, the wheels had to have started spinning.
Bill Belichick knows that winning in the playoffs still requires a team that can run the ball when it needs to and when Blount became available, it was a no-brainer.
Or maybe it had been in the works the whole time. I mean, this is the Patriots we’re talking and I wouldn’t put anything past them. Would you?
11 comments
With Blount you have another example of Tomlin’s staff failure to use the resources available to them. I’m pretty sure when the Steelers acquired Blount they had thoughts of using him to spell Bell. But instead they threw a very good and valuable player to the side and decided to overload Bell. And remember one thing Bell was driving that car not Blount. In short, if properly used Blount would have been invaluable. This is just another example of poor talent evaluation and someone is laughing last and it ain’t the Steelers.
First thing i thought when blount was released what if Bell got hurt and then he did get hurt thought the steelers should have fined him now they enabled him to win a division title and possibly a superbowl ring.Steelers are still in the same position next year unless they get another back just in case this happens again.
Haters hate and players help make the patriots great if one can not understand this truth then their ramblings are moot.
Actions like this need to be handled in a manner that prevents future players doin the same thing when they’re unhappy with playing rep’s or condition’s Fosters anarchy in the ranks.,
All I know is we really could’ve used him against Cincy
Blount walked out on the team how can any of you defend that? If you did the same thing Blount did would you expect to stay with the Steelers after that or any team for that matter? Blount knew what he was getting into when he signed here a backup RB and nothing more. The Steelers did the right thing and mark my words after Feb 1 this discussion will be nothing more than that a discussion and nothing more.
Hey Vittorio you are right what was i thinking. Having just one running back is just fine, i mean if he gets tired we can just call for a water break, right?? Blount is obviously a very competitive individual and was told by all accounts that he was being phased out. Bell has only played 2 seasons and has missed the better part of 5 games having a back up rb might be a good idea but who am i to say we could always use a sixth TE.
So it’s better to support a quitter than having the right attitude on a team? If Blount wanted more carries then show up and when your number is called get the job done. Even if they had Blount vs the Ravens it would have made no difference. Bell can pick up blitzers where as Blount would get the same treatment Tate, Archer and Harris would have gotten. The Steelers did the right thing in letting him go and if you don’t believe me go ask anybody on the local radio stations and you will get the same answer I gave you. Yes they need a better backup RB but you don’t support quitters. I wonder if AB or Bell or Ben quit on the team would you support them the same way you Bob Graff supported Blount. No I’m not comparing those 3 players to Blount but I ask you how in the world can you defend a quitter? Remember it was Indy not the Ravens and it wasn’t the Seahawks. So since you want to be a know at all tell me what exactly is Blount going to do when he can’t run on the Seahawks? What are you and all the dumb Blount defenders going to say when Blount gets a taste of his own medicine on Feb 1?
I truly do not think exiting the field early was the right thing to do. As far as the quitting thing goes the Steelers did confirm they weren’t going to use him anymore this season anyways. i think that if the Steelers delivered the carries they had promised Bell things would have worked out well for everyone. Now when they do interview for a back-up they have to be prepared to say we have no carries to give you and we may be able to work you in at garbage time. I feel that dedicating that much of a load is only going to wear Bell down. And having a player of Blount’s caliber and not using him or even replacing was and is foolish.
Sorry i meant to say “was not the right thing to do”
Well from what everybody saw of Bell this season he wasn’t wearing down. Blount complained about his snaps and when you do that that makes you look like a baby or a little kid who doesn’t get what he wants. Bell does so much more than running. He’s a pass catcher out of the backfield and he can pick up blitzing LB’s to make Ben’s job a whole lot easier. What exactly can Blount do to help this team other than straight line running? If they had him vs the Ravens in the WC game it would have made no difference. Blount is nothing more than a runner, Bell is a all around back. If the Steelers were to ask Blount to pick up either Suggs or Dumervil would you a Steeler fan have any faith in Blount being able to do that?