Blount Signs with Pats (2yr deal)

Between Blount and Gray, that is a lot of power to wear down offensive lines.

@LG_Blount: @RobGronkowski is a MONSTER!!! They can't guard him!!!

@LG_Blount: Everyone please pray that my brother @StevanRidley has a speedy recovery from his injury today!! Thanks guys!!

@LG_Blount: “@DaRealTGOD_Wave: @LG_Blount Need to be praying for the squad. Unacceptable” fall back man... That's my bro

Blount probably called BB first.

PP2 said:

I think this was more of a contingency plan for the future, as we have three RB's scheduled for FA after this season: Ridley, Vereen, and Bolden. Conventional wisdom and experience suggests that we will not be able to keep all three (our priority would probably be Revis). My guess is in order of priority: Vereen (3rd down specialist that cannot be easily replaced), Bolden (4 unit ST/RB backup value), and then Ridley, as he is not on ST, and would be competing with Gray and Blount for playing time.

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And one of those, Bolden, is a RFA, meaning the team has some leverage there.

Gray, Blount, White, and Gaffney isn't a bad place to start with the 2015 RB stable. Only one third-down back and three big backs but the book on Gaffney is he has decent hands.

There was a lot of hand-wringing this offseason about the 2015 RB situation and now worst-case is the Pats will have a decent committee under contract before the draft.

UK_Pat37 said:

This is great news. Both sides wanted a deal done last year but sadly we were world's apart on what we both wanted out of the deal. By all accounts it was a friendly parting.

He towed the line here despite the character concerns prior to us signing him the first time around and I have no doubt Bill will make him do so again.

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I never wanted him to leave in the first place, love what he did for the team last year.

This is an awesome move. He is the battering ram to Gray's shiftiness. This should keep defenses on their heels.

JMC00 said:

Except he didn't quit on his teammates. The game was over and Steelers were kneeling on the ball (or that's the report I saw earlier) and he left the field. Quiting on your team is what Tomlinson did in the '07 AFCC game.

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Is this true?

If so this has to rate right up there with some of the worst overblown sensationalism on the part of the media in my opinion.

AndyJohnson said:

Blount will be competing with Gray for carries, not sitting idle waiting for him to go down.

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Oh definitely. Just saying if we didn't have Blount, no one is competing with gray for carries. Definitely not bolden.

I approve.

nabwong said:

Has Harmon's name been called once this season? It's unlikely him though. Tavon Wilson? Nate ebner to Ir?

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Nab - Why would Ebner go to IR? Ebner was healthy and played in the last game.. Harmon and Wilson have both seen plenty of playing time..

If the Colts and Broncos wanted Blount, they would have claimed on waivers. There is only a $60,000 difference between his cap impact of his Steelers contract and the veteran minimum.

nabwong said:

Has Harmon's name been called once this season? It's unlikely him though. Tavon Wilson? Nate ebner to Ir?

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I think Harmon's been out there a decent bit. Think of it as a good thing that we haven't heard his name much. Otherwise it would mean he's gotten beat.

rochrist said:

I agree that I'd like to see him back. My memory though, which could easily be wrong, is that when they bring players back from injury, they tend to do it slowly. Given that and the fact that this is a very big guy coming off a foot injury, I fully expect them to use most, if not all, of the three weeks getting him up to speed before deciding to activate him.

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Well we have no clue where he is in his recovery. He could have been ready to go weeks ago and had to wait to practice. The fact that they cut Walker to add a RB tells me Siliga should be back soon.

robertweathers said:

You don't know that. They put Gray on waivers, he cleared them and was subsequently signed to the PQ.

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I was referring to the ACTIVE ROSTER. When Ridley went down, if Blount was here chances are Gray would not have been in the active roster.

There is one HUGE difference between last year and this year for Blount being on the Pats.. There is no Aqib Talib. The man who advocated for the Pats to get Blount in the first place.. There is no telling what sort of impact that will have on Blount's attitude..

rochrist said:

Are you confusing Devey with Devlin?

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Yeah, my bad. I was up most of the night and am working on exshaution euphoria & caffeine.

Devey can go if needs be. Devlin is who I meant. Sorry about that.

shmessy said:

Why are people mentioning Bolden? He's not going anywhere - - very good STer and can fill in ok at RB (and as a pass catcher out of the backfield is our 2nd best at that to vereen, so he is also Vereen insurance).

Possible cuts (because they will need 2 when Siliga gets in):

Chris White
Casey Walker
James White (IR)
Devey (maybe to PS)

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Probably James White and Jordan Devey to PS.

I like this a lot. Blount and Gray are both good at hitting the assigned gap, and terrific when they get to the second level. 38 carries was too much last week for Gray. He won't last.

If they give Blount 10-12 carries and Gray 10-12, and mix in the occasional Edelmen/Amendola sweep and Vereen, the Pats have a nice mix of 30 or so carries to keep things balanced, and opposing front sevens honest.

I hope Blount plays on Sunday and the Patriots target Ndamunkong Suh for repeated rushing plays by Gray and Blount. Nothing wears out a big pass rusher like him quite like 230 pounds of enthusiastic running back in his grill all afternoon.

Haley said:

Maybe this is a bit outlandish but is it possible that by waiting until Thursday for this signing they ensure that the Lions cannot game plan for Blount but the Pats may be able to get him in the game for some touches based on past experience? That might be a bit pie in the sky but crazier things...

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The only problem with this idea is that it's not been thought out by you at all.
1) Pittsburgh didn't release Blount until Tuesday.
2) Blount had to clear waivers on Wednesday before he could be signed by someone.
3) Thursday was the earliest day that Blount could be signed by any team after he cleared waivers.

So, yes, it is outlandish.
All teams game plan for the #3 RB... ..

Pats0204 said:

Does anybody know if we still get the compensatory pick we originally were going to get for losing him to the Steelers in the off-season?

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IF Blount qualified for a compensatory pick, then yes, the Pats would still be eligible for one.. It all depends on whether or not his contract was offset by one of the signings the Pats made..

shmessy said:

I was referring to the ACTIVE ROSTER. When Ridley went down, if Blount was here chances are Gray would not have been in the active roster.

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Gotcha. Agreed.