The New England Patriots search for a running back has lasted deep into April but it now appears that the team is ready to resolve who will be the primary occupant with quarterback Tom Brady next year of the team's backfield. The Patriots had previously been linked to Adrian Peterson and the team also reportedly expressed interest in current Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, who is looking to return to the NFL in 2017.
It appears their first choice though is last year’s running back LeGarrette Blount. Despite that interest, it appears the team is ready to consider other options unless something can finalize with the back who scored 18 touchdowns last year en route to the team's sixth Super Bowl championship.
Blount had a very productive season for the Patriots when he rushed for 1,161 yards and 18 touchdowns, second only to Arizona Cardinals' running back David Johnson, who finished with 20. Blount played last season on an incredibly economic contract for the Patriots given his production, as he signed a one-year, $1 million contract in April 2016. He had a number of incentives which bumped up his compensation to just over $1.5 million in total compensation, a very good price for a running back of his productivity.
The Patriots and Blount are engaged in a stare down over his potential 2017 contract and it appears that the Patriots want something done sooner rather than later with the running back or they could close the door entirely on his potential return to the team. Mike Reiss reported late Sunday that Blount’s offer from the Patriots remains on the table, but that it won’t stay that way forever. While Reiss did not mention a specific timetable for when the Patriots could potentially pull an offer to Blount, one would have to think that with a number of accomplished running backs are still on the market, like Peterson and former Kansas Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, that a deadline could probably be sometime right before the NFL Draft when the team will likely want to know its running back situation.
The Blount contract standoff is another example of the way the Patriots like to operate with the overwhelming majority of their players. In the cutthroat business of the NFL, many players are replaceable and the team does not like to spend more of the salary cap than they have to. The team is in a similar situation with cornerback Malcolm Butler, who wants a raise from his 2016 salary of $3.91 million and has had trouble doing so in the restricted free agency market.
The Patriots have already signed one running back this offseason away from the Cincinnati Bengals, veteran Rex Burkhead, to a one-year, $3.15 million contract. The team also re-signed Brandon Bolden this offseason and both of those backs will join already signed James White and Dion Lewis in 2017. It remains unclear if the Patriots will ultimately sign another running back if they do move on from Blount, but their recent actions would make one believe that they will.
Blount is turning 31 years of age this December, an age at which most teams don’t like to pay a high priced running back talent. Blount has just 1,279 carries in his career, which represents a very low amount of wear and tear in the NFL. It is unclear whether the Patriots actually are ready to walk away from Blount or just want to force his hand into a quicker decision, but it looks like this situation will be resolved one way sooner rather than later.
Simon Ogus is the Co-Founder & COO of SportTechie.com. He can be followed at @SimonOgus and reached at simonogus@gmail.com