The purpose of my post was to point out that Blount may be looking for considerable more money than people here are assuming he would settle for. He also may be looking for a role here that may no longer exist as the Pats likely see Burkhead as a more important piece going forward.
I'm well aware of the limitations of both Morris and Hightower, was just throwing names out there of vets who may be both cheaper than Blount, available and fill the role of a big type back, since it doesn't appear likely that the Pats want to invest a lot in the position.
Blount has in the past had issues with playing time, so much so that he quit on his team, that's what I mean "the headache". If he's done it in the past, he capable of doing it again.
True. Blount
may be looking for considerably more money than the $1.1M he made with the Pats in 2016. My guess is that, if he's looking for more than one year and/or anything much more than about $200k guaranteed (almost regardless of the "face value" of the contract) he'll need to find that elsewhere. I just think that there's at least an equal chance that he'd be willing to sign a new contract with the Pats at a slight bump from 2016 for the
chance at making the 53-man again for 2017. If Blount hasn't signed elsewhere by the end of July, I think there's a very good chance he re-signs with the Pats (the Pats have had "gentleman's agreements" with older players in Blount's situation in the past).
IF Blount isn't available, I agree the Pats would consider Morris. In fact, I think there's a good chance that he becomes available fairly soon, since DAL just re-signed McFadden for 2017 at a cap hit less than half what Morris' will be ($980k vs. $2.1M).
Either way, Morris or Blount, it wouldn't really be much of an investment if the guy doesn't make the team out of Camp. I mean, re-signing Blount (or Morris) at a relatively cheap price doesn't mean that he's automatically on the 53 at the start of the season. There will almost certainly be competition. However, I do think that BB would like to have a solid backup/relief man for Burkhead in the lead role on the final roster (vet or rookie) in order to avoid having to scramble and sign a Steven Jackson type again to cover an in-season injury.
As to whether or not Blount (
or Morris) would be happy in such a role is an open question. Blount has seemed happy in a shared role with the Pats in the past, and we don't know that he's eager at all for another 300+ carry season as the sole lead RB.
That he blew up in PIT may have had as much or more to do with a personal regret for having left the Pats in the first place as it did with his lack of playing time. If so, he may not be all that eager to leave them again (I mean, as long as we're both speculating about what he's thinking).
