Birds sign RB Blount
The Eagles agreed to terms on a one-year contract with RB LeGarrette Blount Wednesday. Blount rushed for 18 touchdowns last year with the Patriots. The Eagles rushed for 16.
The Eagles landed a big back Wednesday, agreeing to terms on a one-year contract with 245-pound veteran LeGarrette Blount.
Blount rushed for an NFL-high 18 touchdowns last year with the Patriots. The Eagles rushed for 16, fourth-fewest in the league.
Blount, who turns 31 in December, basically is the three-down back the Eagles were unable to secure in the NFL draft.
“LeGarrette Blount is a tough, physical runner who has enjoyed a great deal of success in New England and we are excited about adding him to this football team,” Eagles executive vice president of football operations said in a release furnished by the team. “We feel good about the depth and competition that we have created at the running back position and we are looking forward to getting the guys out on the field next week for OTAs.”
Blount could earn up to $2.8 million this season per reports. That’s better than a one-year deal worth $1.1 million, which is what the Patriots tendered him under an obscure section of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Blount had to sign with another team by July 22nd or his rights this season would have belonged to the Patriots. Oh, and the Patriots get compensatory draft compensation from the NFL because they tendered player in free agency.
Blount rushed for a career-best 1,161 yards on 299 carries last season to earn his second Super Bowl championship ring with the Patriots.
Blount’s 3.8 average per carry was the lowest of his seven-year career including stops in Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh.
In 100 regular season games, including 43 starts, Blount rushed for 5,122 yards and 49 touchdowns.
In eight playoff games, all with the Patriots, the product of Oregon rushed for 470 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 4.2 yards per lug.
Blount signed with the Titans as an undrafted rookie in 2010 but was released. The Buccaneers picked him up and he rushed for 1,007 yards.
Ryan Mathews led the Eagles with eight rushing TDs last year but was chronically hurt. The Eagles likely will reach an injury settlement and release Mathews, which would save them $4 million against the salary cap.
None of the Eagles’ remaining backs are threedown backs.