LeGarrette Blount finished last season as the primary runner on a Super Bowl championship team. But things are rarely straightforward with Blount, and that will continue to start 2015.
This isn't a huge deal, but it's a reminder that Blount has struggled with motivation and various off-field issues since he entered the league. The Steelers, after all, let him go last November for essentially being a knucklehead.
Blount has an extra week to get in shape this season because he is suspended for the season opener against Pittsburgh after violating the league's substance-abuse policy. That means one of the following Patriots players will start at running back that day: Jonas Gray, Travaris Cadet, Brandon Bolden or James White. The Patriots always scrap out rushing yards, but this is the most talent-poor backfield they've had in at least seven seasons.
Blount has never carried the ball more than 201 times in a season in his career, and that workload came back in his rookie season in 2010. It's not a great sign when the Patriots are expecting him to be the most reliable guy at the running back position for them this season.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast discusses Tom Brady's four-game suspension and Eric Berry's comeback.
