LeGarrette "LGBT" Blount: Blue is the New Black
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Does this (Blount forced drama?) become a thing now? If players don't like where they are at and throw a fit, they might get to a better situation. Particularly since as a vested vet, Blount gets paid by both teams this year.
It's funny. A week or two ago, I would've been psyched about this. Now, I meet it with cautious optimism and a little trepidation given how well the offense and Gray has been performing. That said, I'm sure if Blount is a malcontent, he's gone just like that.
There's something to be said to having an extra smashmouth RB in December (and beyond). And obviously he knows he's not coming in at #1 on the depth chart. He knows the Pats system and knows he can't pull any BS here, so maybe this will work out. In Bill we trust.
Toucher & Rich were talking about this and someone said "it looks like the team isn't buying into the jonas Gray hype." It struck me that it's not an either or. Gray carried the ball 38 times on Sunday. That is not sustainable so they could certainly believe in Gray and still give Blount carriesriboflav said:
edit: 37 carries. forgot about the "adjustment"
riboflav said:
Gray is pretty much the only back on the roster that can withstand a heavy load. He already carried the ball 37 times against the Colts, if he keeps having 25+ carries every week he'll be running on fumes come playoff time. This just tells me the Patriots wish to keep a power running game as part of their arsenal going forward, and to do that effectively they needed someone else to carry the rock.
Wilson get reps on D. I could see Ebner going first.Ed Hillel said:
Edit: happy the Pats got blount back for his home run ability and for the depth. If Gray goes down late in the season its Bolden and nobody really believes in him. This makes me feel much better about the position depth for the playoffs.
I think this is exactly it. We can't expect Gray to stay healthy carrying the ball that much. I don't expect to see much of either back this week against Detroit, but with Green Bay near the bottom of the league in rush yards allowed per game both should be very involved the following week.steveluck7 said:
The negatives are obvious but his play here at the end of last year was near epic. So presumably, he's still capable of that "greatness" given the opportunity. Plus he gives us depth, another KO return guy, and a quality RB contracted beyond this year. I LOVE the depth on this team moving forward!
Pats now will be going into next year with Blount, Gray, Bolden, White and Gaffney under contract. This to me spells goodbye to Ridley and lessens the impact if Vereen asks for too much money.
Bets part of the move I think is what it signals for future free agents, both coming and going. Grass is greener at 1 Pat Pl.
I just have a hard time seeing who goes off the 46. Bolden has been good on ST. OL is banged up so I do t want to get rid of anyone. There's a few phantom IR candidates but I don't want to take depth away from a position just to add Blount. Very surprised at this move as the team chemistry is so good now and bringing in a questionable guy in(familiar guy or not) is an unnecessary risky move.
Nothing but upside to this.
Takes a few carries from Gray, which is necessary to keep him upright.
And if LGBT acts up (really doubtful) he gets cut lightning-quick.
Takes a few carries from Gray, which is necessary to keep him upright.
And if LGBT acts up (really doubtful) he gets cut lightning-quick.
Blount is about one incident from being out of the league, costs nothing to cut, and his weed buddy on our team is on IR and not under contract for this year. Im not super worried about locker room disruption or negative off the field effects.
Extra legs for the stretch run is nice, as well as keeping him away from other potential playoff contenders. I wonder if Indy and/or Denver were ever interested?
Yeah, this makes sense. I believe Bolden is also a FA. Plus Blount knows the system, so he can contribute immediately as opposed to someone like Tate who would have to learn it.tims4wins said:
Bolden plays on "the big four" (kickoff, KR, punt, PR) - he's fourth on the team in special teams snaps. To replace him with one guy, you have to deactivate depth somewhere else, or have starters or other key contributors pick up more special teams duties. Game-day roster management is pretty much a zero sum game - of course it's great to add more depth at RB with a guy like Blount, but it costs you elsewhere.Ed Hillel said:
Bolden's career has been weird. He was inadequate as a Vereen replacement last year, but showed some usefulness his first two years as a guy who could take a few carries a game - he averaged 5 carries a game at 4.9 yards a pop. This year he's only getting 1.5 carries a game, even with Ridley on IR, and he's averaging just 1.7 YPC. Gray entered last game with just 33 career carries but they still didn't put Bolden in on offense even once.
Devey has been inactive for several weeks. My guess is he gets cut, goes unclaimed, and ends up on the practice squad.
Edit: For when Siliga returns
Edit: For when Siliga returns
Jeff Howe @jeffphowe 13s
13 seconds ago
Blount signed a two-year deal worth up to $2.35M, per source. He gets the prorated minimum this year and up to $1.6M w/ incentives in '15.
13 seconds ago
Blount signed a two-year deal worth up to $2.35M, per source. He gets the prorated minimum this year and up to $1.6M w/ incentives in '15.
BigSoxFan said:
This. I was uber underwhelmed by Danny on KR. I also don't see Bolden getting cut - he is BB's ST binkie 1B behind Slater's 1A. Casillas could join that group as well if he keeps up.
Playoff tested.
And with the signing bonus and game checks he pocketed from Pitts, when you add this contract he more than landed on his feet. Not bad after really screwing up.
But he has to know if he screws up here, he's likely to ride off with Tebow into the sunset, albeit for different reasons. He is on his last NFL life, exactly where the Pats want him.
And with the signing bonus and game checks he pocketed from Pitts, when you add this contract he more than landed on his feet. Not bad after really screwing up.
But he has to know if he screws up here, he's likely to ride off with Tebow into the sunset, albeit for different reasons. He is on his last NFL life, exactly where the Pats want him.
Is Don Jones another candidate to be cut? He didn't dress last week. If Ebner is anywhere near ready he gives them another ST guy making Jones redundant. Or Ebner could wind up on IR himself.
It won't be Dobson - given that Tyms hasn't done a whole lot to justify his place in the lineup I would not be that surprised to see Donson active next week.
It won't be Dobson - given that Tyms hasn't done a whole lot to justify his place in the lineup I would not be that surprised to see Donson active next week.
RoDaddy said:
This to me is it. Simple depth move -- another injury to a RB would really hurt. Instead Gray/Blount will be and will stay fresh power RBs heading into the stretch. I still hate that these guys don't have a pass-catching dimension (demonstrably with Blount, presumably with Gray), but with Ridley out this is a nice move.
And I'm down with Devey being the cut once Siliga is back.
BigSoxFan said:
Of course a lot of this has to do with the teams Kick Return unit, but Blount has been very underwhelming for PIT this year.
Amendola 5 returns, 24.7 avg, 31 long
Blount 5 returns, 20.1 avg, 29 long
Blount wasn't anything special on kick returns last year until his big game week 17. And people seemed to like Amendola on KR until he had one dumb / bad return Sunday night.DaughtersofDougMirabelli said:
It would be funny if Gray is released or sent to the practice squad to make room for Blount.
And I say that as a huge Gray fan.
Sosh would burn.....and I would be one of the guys with a torch....however....
Would anything else be a more "Belicheckian" move?
And I say that as a huge Gray fan.
Sosh would burn.....and I would be one of the guys with a torch....however....
Would anything else be a more "Belicheckian" move?
I like this as a depth move. I assume that Gray will continue to be the lead back. If he gets hurt, I'd much rather see Blount be inserted in that role than a combination of Vereen, Bolden and White.
Bolden is an excellent special teams player but rather underwhelming out of the backfield. Vereen seems very well suited to his change of pace and receiving back role. And White seems like someone who is neither big or fast enough to be a successful running back in the NFL. I hope I am wrong about that and could be, but I'm very dubious that we'd see evidence of that this season given his limited usage thus far and the only so-so results when he has been in there (including the pre-season).
All that said, with BB, who the hell knows? It wouldn't be a total shocker if Gray and Blount split the carries going forward.
Bolden is an excellent special teams player but rather underwhelming out of the backfield. Vereen seems very well suited to his change of pace and receiving back role. And White seems like someone who is neither big or fast enough to be a successful running back in the NFL. I hope I am wrong about that and could be, but I'm very dubious that we'd see evidence of that this season given his limited usage thus far and the only so-so results when he has been in there (including the pre-season).
All that said, with BB, who the hell knows? It wouldn't be a total shocker if Gray and Blount split the carries going forward.
DaughtersofDougMirabelli said:
Blount's stats last year were better though - 17 returns, 29.1 average, 83 long. Good for 5th on average. Hopefully a return to the Pats will get him back to those numbers.
Super Nomario said:
I know, I just think it's a positive net gain, especially given the limited value of kick returns now. I'd be happy with any of Wilson/Ebner/Bolden gone once Siliga and Jones become active. I'd be particularly happy with Wilson being gone, but I may be biased.
OK, but then who picks up those ST units? Blount can't do what Bolden does in that area. All three of those guys play all four STs.Ed Hillel said:
The suggestion of Devey going when Siliga's back makes the most sense to me - they have 9 OL on the roster but typically you only need 7 game-day active OL, and OL don't contribute much on specials. 7 OL is a little light if they want to run 6 OL stuff, though (they had 8 active vs Indy).
17 returns is a small sample. Blount had a 23.3 average before Week 17, when he busted a couple long returns.Zososoxfan said:
Super Nomario said:
The more I watch the coach's tape, the more I appreciate Bolden. He was the guy that jolted the ball out during a kickoff to have Arrington return it for a TD vs. Bengals, and splits through the return blockers more often than not.
I now think he has more than enough ST value to stick with the team. And that's coming from me who has championed him getting cut during the pre-season to make way for Roy Finch.
I wouldn't buy a jersey or anything, since that's not a legal uniform number for a RB.Corsi said: