Does the mutual interest between Blount and Pats affect going after Forte?

Brady_to_Moss said:

Never really thought about it...but they have always found and can find cheap Rbs to help out a lot on this team. If it's worked in the past..why change could be their logic. Unless last year when lewis went down they said..lets try a "better" RB per say

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I think that's fair logic too. They have had success with street FAs and other lesser knowns, and haven't really ever paid big for anyone (gave Dillon some money after '04 that was probably too much in retrospect). But I also don't think that the OL problems should totally obscure the fact that they horrifically thin at RB last year. Yes that's partly due to injuries to both Lewis and Blount, but I don't think you go into the next season expecting a quick-cut RB with an ACL tear and a load back with a bum hip to be good enough just because it was before. Smith/Faulk was good enough in '03 but that didn't stop them from getting better at the position that offseason.

Its surprising that there's a fair amount of interest among fans here and elsewhere to re-sign Stephen Jackson next year - some even calling for his role to be increased as a more all-purpose back. This talk is just silly. Jackson did a fine job stepping in late in the season to get us a few yards here and there, and not fumble the ball - but he was a stop-gap solution, not a long term plan.

Gronk said:

I think that's fair logic too. They have had success with street FAs and other lesser knowns, and haven't really ever paid big for anyone (gave Dillon some money after '04 that was probably too much in retrospect). But I also don't think that the OL problems should totally obscure the fact that they horrifically thin at RB last year. Yes that's partly due to injuries to both Lewis and Blount, but I don't think you go into the next season expecting a quick-cut RB with an ACL tear and a load back with a bum hip to be good enough just because it was before. Smith/Faulk was good enough in '03 but that didn't stop them from getting better at the position that offseason.

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Not sure about you but seeing some of Lewis's cuts..and what he will be like again this year scares me a bit. The cut Vs Dallas for the TD and a game at home? on the sidelines was vicious. Has had knee issues before not sure you can...well you can't rely on him for 16 games IMO

But say they sigh Forte and sign Blount. We are loaded at RB..who is the odd man out or PS guy ect

50-yard-line said:

You're not the only one. I agree with this. Jackson didn't get many opportunities but was average 2.5 YPA AFTER first contact.
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That said, I doubt Jackson wants to go through a TC, PS and 16-game schedule. He didn't seem up for that last year, so it would be hard for the Pats to convince him to come back, especially when he wasn't even really given a chance.

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As long as Belichick tells him to stay in shape and make sure his cellphone is on the coffee table next to the couch come November. He may not be what he once was, but if he wants to stay semi-retired, having a guy like that available off of the street (if he's needed) would be better than having him cause a RB log jam at the beginning of the season.

Brady_to_Moss said:

Not sure about you but seeing some of Lewis's cuts..and what he will be like again this year scares me a bit. The cut Vs Dallas for the TD and a game at home? on the sidelines was vicious. Has had knee issues before not sure you can...well you can't rely on him for 16 games IMO

But say they sigh Forte and sign Blount. We are loaded at RB..who is the odd man out or PS guy ect

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When did Lewis have knee issues before? He broke his fibula in 2013 and had some ligament damage but nothing specific to the ACL/MCL at that time.

I'd like to see Blount and Forte splitting carries at the end of games against tired defenses.

Brady_to_Moss said:

But say they sigh Forte and sign Blount. We are loaded at RB..who is the odd man out or PS guy ect

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Assuming no other moves? White. Later in the year he might get "injured" and IR'd if they need to find a roster spot to keep him around, but he'd be the Lewis replacement in that scenario. Forte-Blount-Lewis-Bolden-Develin at RB/FB would look great to me.

TriplecHamp said:

I'd like to see Blount and Forte splitting carries at the end of games against tired defenses.

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If it's a matter of just needing a battering ram and the OL is moving people and gaining yards, hopefully Blount would be able to do that in a limited capacity. The chief plus a Forte-like RB would them is not telegraphing run/pass when he's in the game. Ideally you end up with some '13/'14 Pats-Colts scenarios where NE is just running all over someone even if they know it's coming. Another aspect being that they got a lot out of Ridley/Vereen/Woodhead over the years via the hurry-up, so that'd be another thing it'd be nice to see back in full force.

Brady_to_Moss said:

Not sure about you but seeing some of Lewis's cuts..and what he will be like again this year scares me a bit. The cut Vs Dallas for the TD and a game at home? on the sidelines was vicious. Has had knee issues before not sure you can...well you can't rely on him for 16 games IMO

But say they sigh Forte and sign Blount. We are loaded at RB..who is the odd man out or PS guy ect

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I don't believe he has had knee issues before.

Running backs are like cartons of milk, they all have expiration dates. I'd like some fresh legs in an RB. If ridley's problem is not that hes an ahole [did he leave on good terms?] he'd be cheap and he's got the great burst Blount lacks. Plus it's year 2 off his knee, so his burst should be back.

I'd keep 5 RBs for a while and drop White when his rookie deal runs out. That gives us burst, a hammer for 2nd half [blount] a great combo and a decent 3rd down receiver in reserve, plus a good backup who plays STs.

Bolden's actually a good receiver. Don't want him as your only back, but better that waiver wire in an emergency. I could see a rotation of ridley[or young back substitute] Lewis and blount, plus depth. I don't want to end up with a resume who's best days are behind him.

RayClay said:

Running backs are like cartons of milk,

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.............They're Missing! Our Offense is built on Pass First, Run Second.

What Lewis brought to Pat's Offense was special. It opened up so many options with him, Gronk, JE, especially down in Red Zone. What a Major difference from when O-line, all our players were healthy and we were 10-0, Brady was like 17TD/1INT and that's no fluke. Having Lewis with Forte and what we have already and seeing about a WR, Offense would be deadly.

Paging Marvin Jones and im hard headed I still want to give Justin Hunter a chance and see if he gets it.

LG is 1 year younger than Forte but has less than 1/2 the career carries. I think LG has more gas in the tank if he recovers from the hip. His yards per cary average is slightly higher than Forte

DaBronxPats14 said:

.............They're Missing! Our Offense is built on Pass First, Run Second.

What Lewis brought to Pat's Offense was special. It opened up so many options with him, Gronk, JE, especially down in Red Zone. What a Major difference from when O-line, all our players were healthy and we were 10-0, Brady was like 17TD/1INT and that's no fluke. Having Lewis with Forte and what we have already and seeing about a WR, Offense would be deadly.

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People forget that Brady was getting hit, a lot, even when everyone was healthy. He was getting sacked at a rate much greater than last season during that winning streak.

zoostation said:

LG is 1 year younger than Forte but has less than 1/2 the career carries. I think LG has more gas in the tank if he recovers from the hip. His yards per cary average is slightly higher than Forte

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He has half the carriers but also half the talent.

Forte was never a real option

Too old and expensive for BB

Blount may have a place as the #2 RB in the team

I don't like Blount. I hope the Pats don't resign him. I wish we could get a good back in the draft, but it never seems to happen for us. I'd rather go after Forte.

AvocadoIceCream said:

Forte was never a real option

Too old and expensive for BB

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FA hasn't started yet bud..unless in your mind it has

People are getting way too excited about Forte. Odds are someone will overpay him and the Pats are not going to pursue.

But even if the Pats do go after Forte, they still need a bruising RB.

And just because the Pats are interested in re-signing Blount, it doesn't mean that he will be on the final 53 man roster if they do. My guess is the Pats will make him cutable.

Rob0729 said:

Odds are someone will overpay him and the Pats are not going to pursue.

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That's what you got out of his comments that he doesn't care about money and wants to go to the Superbowl?

Marqui said:

That's what you got out of his comments that he doesn't care about money and wants to go to the Superbowl?

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The Pats are not the only Super Bowl contenders. And we have seen this story play out a thousand times. An older free agent wants to play for a contender and a team with a shot at the Super Bowl throws a ton of money at them. See DeMarcus Ware. See several d-linemen who went to Seattle.