Blount Released

luuked said:

But not putting out a claim is more about symbolism.. our locker room is a meritocracy and Gray has earned his shot.

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Where did you get that? The lockerroom is about winning. It sends a worse message to not claim a guy who can help you. BB is about competition for jobs.

Deus Irae said:

There's nothing wrong with them putting in the claim, because bonuses have been paid. I'd, personally, prefer to see them put the claim in. I just don't see BB doing it. There's no need to deal with that second year if BB doesn't want to, and he seemed to make his position on that pretty clear when he let Blount walk after last season.

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There is nothing to 'deal with' in the second year. Its a free option for a second year.
There is no downside whatsoever to having that option, and only an upside.

LightSkinSmurf said:

Pretty sure blount had more than just one really good game. I'm not sold on gray after just one great game. Lets see how he plays going forward.

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He had two, in fact. Buffalo & Indy back to back. 189 yards then 166. Otherwise, 76 was his high, which was the week before Buffalo.

Blount weeks 1-14: 36 yards a game
Blount weeks 15-playoffs: 109 yards a game

But let's not make him out to be super-clutch or anything. He went 5 carries for 6 yards in the AFCCG.

He's a useful RB, we just don't need him. So long as Gray is healthy.

luuked said:

Well, It doesn't cost them anything. They have put in claims for waived players often while being on the end of the waiver wire list. It would resolve any contract issues.

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See: Jones, Chris (twice).

I wonder, if any, what ramifications his release will have on the pats comp draft picks? The formula goes mainly on the size of the contract, but playing time does factor into it, some.

It would be funny to put in a claim on him, have him help the Pats win a SB and then in April, get an extra draft pick because we lost him in free agency.

BradyManny said:

He had two, in fact. Buffalo & Indy back to back. 189 yards then 166. Otherwise, 76 was his high, which was the week before Buffalo.

Blount weeks 1-14: 36 yards a game
Blount weeks 15-playoffs: 109 yards a game

But let's not make him out to be super-clutch or anything. He went 5 carries for 6 yards in the AFCCG.

He's a useful RB, we just don't need him. So long as Gray is healthy.

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

shmessy said:

The argument is not Blount vs. Gray.

It is what do we have behind Gray if he gets injured.

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Problem with bringing in depth is you have to eliminate depth somewhere else. It's easy to say White should be the one to go, but then, what happens when Vereen gets hurt? IMO, White can be serviceable at both running back spots, and thus has more value than Blount as a backup.

AndyJohnson said:

Where did you get that? The lockerroom is about winning. It sends a worse message to not claim a guy who can help you. BB is about competition for jobs.

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So you have a kid who just had his first real start, worked his ass off together with all offensive people that pitched in to Blackford him and a few days later you try to claim someone who was cut due to what amounts to total anti team behaviour?

I get it that we are in the business of winning but that just doesn't work for me.

BradyManny said:

He had two, in fact. Buffalo & Indy back to back. 189 yards then 166. Otherwise, 76 was his high, which was the week before Buffalo.

Blount weeks 1-14: 36 yards a game
Blount weeks 15-playoffs: 109 yards a game

But let's not make him out to be super-clutch or anything. He went 5 carries for 6 yards in the AFCCG.

He's a useful RB, we just don't need him. So long as Gray is healthy.

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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.

letekro said:

Problem with bringing in depth is you have to eliminate depth somewhere else. It's easy to say White should be the one to go, but then, what happens when Vereen gets hurt? IMO, White can be serviceable at both running back spots, and thus has more value than Blount as a backup.

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What have you got to go on? White has shown zilch in any game whatsoever yet.

Seriously, right now, he is Bequette-like. Get in the weight room and see what we have next year with this guy.

FreeTedWilliams said:

I wonder, if any, what ramifications his release will have on the pats comp draft picks? The formula goes mainly on the size of the contract, but playing time does factor into it, some.

It would be funny to put in a claim on him, have him help the Pats win a SB and then in April, get an extra draft pick because we lost him in free agency.

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This is a good point. If Siliga is any indication, it's possible that any team claiming Blount would have him count against that team's qualifying free agent list. If nobody claims him, it's possible that the Pats are out of luck and won't pick up a 6th rounder for him.

luuked said:

So you have a kid who just had his first real start, worked his ass off together with all offensive people that pitched in to Blackford him and a few days later you try to claim someone who was cut due to what amounts to total anti team behaviour?

I get it that we are in the business of winning but that just doesn't work for me.

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Nobody is saying replace Gray.

Blount would be Gray insurance.

Pretty clear.

luuked said:

So you have a kid who just had his first real start, worked his ass off together with all offensive people that pitched in to Blackford him and a few days later you try to claim someone who was cut due to what amounts to total anti team behaviour?

I get it that we are in the business of winning but that just doesn't work for me.

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So you send the message that one good game means you have a job locked up to the point we won't even bring in competition?
That is not the way the NFL works.
I hope BB doesn't decide to start running the team in a way that says have a good game and we won't try to get better.

Well another thing to think about is that the waiver wire still goes by last year's draft order. Meaning that if BB wanted to keep Blount away from the Broncos, he could (the Pats picked 29th, Bronco's 31st). So it might be in the Pats best interest to put in a claim for Blount.

shmessy said:

Nobody is saying replace Gray.

Blount would be Gray insurance.

Pretty clear.

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Blount would also be competing with Gray for playing time. Thats the way it works.

shmessy said:

What have you got to go on? White has shown zilch in any game whatsoever yet.

Seriously, right now, he is Bequette-like. Get in the weight room and see what we have next year with this guy.

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Hey now! He had like two good plays at the end of the KC where he didn't fall down at the sight of a defender within 5 yards.

shmessy said:

Ummmm......look outside. Bad weather on the way the next few months.

You can put James White on the Invented Injury list (let's face it, he's a 3rd nipple until Vereen leaves next year).

If Jonas Gray gets injured, the Pats running game is kaput. Blount would be insurance down the stretch. I have no need for him in September or October games.

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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.

FreeTedWilliams said:

Well another thing to think about is that the waiver wire still goes by last year's draft order. Meaning that if BB wanted to keep Blount away from the Broncos, he could (the Pats picked 29th, Bronco's 31st). So it might be in the Pats best interest to put in a claim for Blount.

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

AndyJohnson said:

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.

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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.

Oswlek said:

Correct.

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That means the Jets have a shot at him. They are use to players walking out on the team.