Philadelphia Eagles: Keep LeGarrette Blount in the fold

Even after acquiring Jay Ajayi midway through the 2017 season, the Philadelphia Eagles should seriously consider bringing back LeGarrette Blount in 2018.

With the Eagles historic win, Philadelphia Eagles running back LeGarrette Blount became a three-time Super Bowl champion.

Blount gouged the New England Patriots, his former team’s defense for 90 yards and a touchdown on only 14 carries. Anyone that REALLY knows Blount knows that it is more than just the fact that he is quickly becoming known as the “Robert Horry” of the NFL, as Horry won seven championships with three different teams.

It wasn’t even that he exacted sweet revenge on the team that unceremoniously let him go despite the fact that he led the entire league in rushing touchdowns in 2016. Blount’s saga is one of second chances and making the most of his opportunities. While Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles was soundly doubted after taking over the reins of a really strong Eagles team when Carson Wentz went down for the season, Blount’s entire football career has been one of overcoming obstacles and never giving up. In the role of being underestimated, looked over, questioned and abandoned Blount is no stranger.

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Blount, 31, was a four-year starter in high school at running back, cracking the 1,000-yard barrier three of those four years. But coming out of Perry, Florida running for Taylor County High, Blount was considered a two-star recruit. That is when the story of how Blount started his quest to cement his name into the annals of NFL history, because it was here that Blount put the world on notice that you can never count him out.

After falling behind academically at Auburn University, where he had not received a scholarship, Blount decided to go to plan B. East Mississippi Community College, aka Last Chance U, was where Blount staked his claim as the best junior college running back in the nation ranked by the Clarion-Ledger. Blount received junior All-American honors in accumulating 2,292 yards on 367 carries and 18 touchdowns in 2 years. His performances attracted schools like Florida State and West Virginia, with one particular game where Blount gouged Northeast Mississippi Community College for 273 yards as a freshman, but Blount chose to attend Oregon and entered the fold of the Ducks, committing to the Pac-10 program in 2007.

Blounts’ time at Oregon was one of soaring highs and very unforgettable lows.

The highs were extraordinary in themselves, with Blount and his roommate and fellow running back Jeremiah Johnson both rushing for over 1,000 yards in 2008, becoming only the second duo in team history to do so.

But the success of the season was marred with consistent clashes between Blount and then Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti. Blount was suspended for not following team rules late in the season and during the offseason was suspended indefinitely after missing a few team workouts.

And things didn’t get much better under Chip Kelly the very next month.

Though Blount was reinstated by Kelly in March of that year, he was once again suspended after putting the beatdown on Boise State defensive end Bryon Hout three games into the season. And just like that, Blount’s career in Eugene was over.

Well, it’s water under the bridge now, Blount’s suspension took him off may NFL draft boards, and resulted in the hardnosed runner going undrafted. Though he was eventually signed as a UDFA by Tennessee, he once again found trouble, in the form of a fist fight in training camp, and although he did make the 53 man roster, he was eventually cut without playing in a single game.

But Blount didn’t clear waivers and was picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then head coach Raheem Morris. Now a featured back, Blount was a major reason why the Bucs put together the greatest turnaround in franchise history when they finished the season with a 10-6 record after finishing 3-13 the previous season, and Blount recorded his first 1000 yard season as a pro.

Blount proved himself to be a consistent and tougher than nails back, so much so that NFL’s greatest coach, Bill Belichick, traded for him in the 2013 draft. While he was in New England for one season, he recorded over 700 yards on only 153 carries and earned a new contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014.

But in true Blount fashion, controversy reared its ugly head.

After failing to receive a carry against his former team the Titans, Blount decided to leave the sideline during the game and was subsequently released mid-season for his actions. But also in typical Blount fashion, this temporary setback was only the setup for a monumental career comeback as Blount resigned with the Patriots, and was instrumental in the playoffs that ended in a Super Bowl XLIX victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

After an up-and-down season for Blount in 2015, Blount resigned with the Patriots on a one year deal for the 2016 season. He rewarded the trust and commitment that Belichick and the Patriots rarely show to positional players by leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 18, and ultimately earning his second Super Bowl ring as the Patriots made the historic comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI, which ended with the Patriots on top 34-28. However, to the delight of Philadelphia Eagles fans, the Patriots decided to not re-sign Blount and into the Eagles fold he came.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Blount came in and performed admirably, humbling himself and buying fully into Duce Staley and head coach Doug Pederson‘s system. And to the surprise of many, Blount was fully supportive of Howie Roseman‘s acquisition of Jay Ajayi midseason, taking the young power back under his wing.

And now, at a familiar crossroads, Blount is once again a free agent and will have a tough decision to make about his next stop in the NFL.

While Blount could probably play a few more seasons in the NFL, he has to start thinking about his career post-football, and that may include coaching.

I know that’s a crazy assertion, but the Eagles have made a point of rewarding homegrown talent and helping former players transition into the coaching world. With Staley poised to eventually move into a coordinator role in the future, Blount, with all his experience, knowledge and toughness could be an unconventional candidate to join the coaching realm, and eventually become a coach himself. After all, Blount has been through in his career and all that he has accomplished, it would be a great ending to a historical career if he finished his playing days as a Philadelphia Eagle and then transition into a coach for the team believed in him and gave him a chance when seemingly no one else would.

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While it’s unclear if Blount would even want to transition into the coaching world like Frank Reich, Pederson or Staley before him, the veteran back’s loyalty, maturity, and toughness should be rewarded with another contract, and be given a chance to finish out his career in the City of Brotherly Love. With some many other teams looking at Blount as an afterthought, he’s finally found a home in Philly and deserves an opportunity to finish out his pro career as an Eagles if he so chooses.

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