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New England Patriots Signing RB LeGarrette Blount Is Low Risk, High Reward Move

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By @calling_allfans

LeGarrette Blount

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Running back LeGarrette Blount left the field early in the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ Week 11 win over the Tennessee Titans on the road. Two days after the Steelers released Blount, the New England Patriots signed the running back to a reported two-year deal. Blount signed a two-year, $3.85 million deal with the Steelers this offseason after playing for New England in 2013 when he amassed nearly 800 rushing yards, had seven TDs and was instrumental in the Patriots’ playoff win over the Indianapolis Colts.

This is a great, low risk/high reward move by Bill Belichick and the Patriots. The deal is reportedly for the prorated minimum this year and up to $1.6 million with incentives in 2015 if the Patriots decide to hold on to Blount for 2015.

Blount has had his share of various off-field issues throughout his career — including being arrested with Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell this August for marijuana possession — and he hasn’t exactly taken the league by storm in 2014. The Patriots don’t necessarily need him, but New England fans should be happy that Blount is back in town. Blount knows the Patriots’ system and he has been active all season so he won’t need any time to get acclimated. The Patriots really want Blount ready for the playoffs and possibly to handle kickoff returns, but knowing he’ll be able to play right away is a bonus.

The Patriots’ running back corps has been bitten by the injury bug this season. Stevan Ridley is out for the season with a torn ACL, and while Jonas Gray had an eye-opening, breakout performance against the Colts in Week 11, the Patriots probably cannot count on that every week. Ridley, Shane Vereen and Brandon Bolden will all be free agents at season’s end. The Patriots could have added running backs through the draft or free agency in the offseason, so Blount wasn’t needed, but he certainly provides some needed depth in 2014. If he toes the line and produces, he could help the Patriots in 2015 as well.

If Blount can give the Patriots the type of production he did towards the end of last season, that’s great and he could be really beneficial down the stretch and in the playoffs. If he doesn’t produce or he becomes a problem because of lack of playing time or any other issues, the Patriots can cut ties with him easily.

Justin Patrick is a New England Patriots writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @calling_allfans, like him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google. You can also email him at [email protected]

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