Blount Released

[BradyManny]

Gray's had one game. Let's put him in the Hall of Fame immediately!

Not my point at all.

Again, my entire point is that RB production goes as a function of OL play. The difference in RB play is actually a much smaller factor, unless you are a truly skilled runner like Ridley, where you can see the difference regardless of line play. Gray had a good game b/c our line pummeled theirs, same as Blount in January of last year.

 

[Ring 6]

Fair points.

I don't know the answer - he obviously is a bit of an issue in the locker room. But it's not like he'd take the team down with him, it would be a low-risk signing. I still would probably let him be someone else's high maintenance backup RB at this point.

My instinct is he's sort of an ***hole, so the question is do you want an ***hole in your locker room?

 

[luuked]

Nobody is saying replace Gray.

Blount would be Gray insurance.

Pretty clear.

That's a way to sell it.

 

[Deus Irae]

Not my point at all.

Again, my entire point is that RB production goes as a function of OL play. The difference in RB play is actually a much smaller factor, unless you are a truly skilled runner like Ridley, where you can see the difference regardless of line play. Gray had a good game b/c our line pummeled theirs, same as Blount in January of last year.

It's football. Everything is a function of everything else. Brady can't be Brady when his OL sucks ass and his weapons aren't getting open. Revis isn't Revis when he's playing 10 yards off the ball and falling back into zone. And so on, and so on, and so on.

Blount, at least, has a track record of being able to run the ball. Gray has one game.

 

[shmessy]

I'll be happy if he ends up back on the Pats. I just don't value him nearly as high as some of the other board members do. He's an OK bad weather back.

Worth $317K or so? Yup.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

I'm not sure if that is accurate, I thought it was based on current record at this point.

I'm pretty sure I'm right, everything I have researched says it doesn't change from week to week.

 

[RobertWeathers]

He was very, very good for a few week period at the end of the year. He was solid for a few weeks before that and, frankly, not that great for the first half of the year. Decent average, but inconsistent and a total toe-tapper if the line didn't give him obvious room. For a big guy, Blount has a bad case of twinkle toes.

I'll be surprised if NE puts a claim in on him.

Yea I agree. I recall a few articles saying that Blount started to take to coaching much better after the bye week. Specifically, he started to get his pad level down. That translated into more carries the rest of the year. In addition, Ridley fumbled vs CAR and DEN and that basically put him in the dog house and gave Blount an opportunity.

 

[BradyManny]

Blount, at least, has a track record of being able to run the ball. Gray has one game.

Sure, but Blount & Gray now have the same # of 100 yard games (reg season) for the Patriots. I think it's easy to overrate what Blount brought to the table b/c of his surge at the end of the year. It's not like he's a supreme talent, he's a JAG RB - which has value, but yes, I can see your argument that we aren't even sure we have that in Gray, yet.

 

[mgteich]

Nobody is saying replace Gray.

Blount would be Gray insurance.

Pretty clear.

I agree.

I think that we should put in a claim. The backups to Gray are White and Bolden, neither of whom should be getting prime time reps at this point.

The cost of insurance is very low. I would not even expect Blount to be active if Gray stays healthy.

 

[Deus Irae]

Sure, but Blount & Gray now have the same # of 100 yard games (reg season) for the Patriots. I think it's easy to overrate what Blount brought to the table b/c of his surge at the end of the year. It's not like he's a supreme talent, he's a JAG RB - which has value, but yes, I can see your argument that we aren't even sure we have that in Gray, yet.

Blount was sharing carries, and Gray wasn't. Blount had only one game with more than 16 carries last year. He also, even with small sample size issues, only had 4 games where he averaged less than 4 yards per carry.

The anti-Blount people are making some of the most ridiculously misleading arguments I've ever seen on this site. Don't go down that path.

 

[patchick]

Herein lies the dilemma. There is no certainty that Gray will stay healthy. If you don't sign Blount now, and Gray gets injured, then you can't get Blount.
I see no reason to not have insurance, unless, as I suspect, he's just not the type of guy they want on the team.

I'm on board with the "insurance" idea in principle, but isn't a guy who was just cut for throwing tantrums over his lack of playing time the worst possible "insurance policy"? A Gray backup who doesn't contribute on special teams would be a guaranteed gameday inactive as long as Gray is able suit up.

 

[Ivan]

Why would Blount want to come be the back up to Gray when he walked out on the role in Pittsburgh?

 

[BradyManny]

Blount was sharing carries, and Gray wasn't. Blount had only one game with more than 16 carries last year. He also, even with small sample size issues, only had 4 games where he averaged less than 4 yards per carry.

The anti-Blount people are making some of the most ridiculously misleading arguments I've ever seen on this site. Don't go down that path.

Fair points. I'm not anti-Blount. He is a competent RB, but I don't think he's more than that. Were we to sign him, I would not be upset - I just don't think it's necessary, and the negative off-field/locker rooms make it unlikely we'll sign him.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I'm pretty sure I'm right, everything I have researched says it doesn't change from week to week.

For the first few weeks of the season, it's based on record the previous season. I believe it switches over to current record in Week 4.

 

[Ivan]

I'm on board with the "insurance" idea in principle, but isn't a guy who was just cut for throwing tantrums over his lack of playing time the worst possible "insurance policy"? A Gray backup who doesn't contribute on special teams would be a guaranteed gameday inactive as long as Gray is able suit up.

I liked Blount here last season but I wouldn't mess with the chemistry of this team at this point. I would pass on both he and Tate.

 

[mgteich]

Fair points. I'm not anti-Blount. He is a competent RB, but I don't think he's more than that. Were we to sign him, I would not be upset - I just don't think it's necessary, and the negative off-field/locker rooms make it unlikely we'll sign him.

Then I suppose your fine with Bolden and White sharing 20 or more reps if Gray is injured? I want us to put in a claim on Blount, with the expectation of him being inactive barring an injury.

 

[shmessy]

I'm on board with the "insurance" idea in principle, but isn't a guy who was just cut for throwing tantrums over his lack of playing time the worst possible "insurance policy"? A Gray backup who doesn't contribute on special teams would be a guaranteed gameday inactive as long as Gray is able suit up.

Therein lies the delicious irony that makes this one a tough call (if he's even available by time the Pats get a shot at him).

 

[BelichickFan]

I'm on board with the "insurance" idea in principle, but isn't a guy who was just cut for throwing tantrums over his lack of playing time the worst possible "insurance policy"? A Gray backup who doesn't contribute on special teams would be a guaranteed gameday inactive as long as Gray is able suit up.

Agree with what you wrote except that :

1) Blount would presumably come here knowing what he signed up for, probably in a different state of mind than being there.

2) Belichick seemed to like having multiple backs last year and I doubt he wants Gray in there full time, as good as he looked. I think Bill and Blount could reach a happy place with Gray/Blount getting 2/3 and 1/3, respectively, of the "big back" carries.

 

[Deus Irae]

What's with all the "backup" nonsense? Belichick runs tandems.

 

[shmessy]

Agree with what you wrote except that :

1) Blount would presumably come here knowing what he signed up for, probably in a different state of mind than being there.

2) Belichick seemed to like having multiple backs last year and I doubt he wants Gray in there full time, as good as he looked. I think Bill and Blount could reach a happy place with Gray/Blount getting 2/3 and 1/3, respectively, of the "big back" carries.

I agree.

Loved the game on Sunday night, but I hope to never seeing this kid tote the ball 38 times in an important game again (for his sake and the team's).