Running back LeGarrette Blount has agreed to return to the New England Patriots according to several published media reports.
Blount, who missed the final three regular-season games and the playoffs after suffering a hip injury last year, signed a one-year deal, according to the reports. He led the Patriots with 703 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns last year.
He played his first three NFL seasons with Tampa Bay, then was traded to the Patriots on April 27, 2013 for running back Jeff Demps and a 2013 seventh round draft pick. He rushed for 772 yards for New England in 2013, but left as a free agent after that season, signing with Pittsburgh.
But he was cut by the Steelers in November, cleared waivers and re-signed with the Patriots. He gained 281 yards in the final five games and helped New England win the Super Bowl that year.
He became a free agent after the 2015 season but had not garnered much interest as he recovered from his injury. The 6-foot, 250-pound Blount is a strong inside runner with deceptive breakaway speed. He has scored 16 rushing touchdowns for the Patriots in 33 regular-season games, while rushing for 1,756 yards.
He has added seven touchdowns and 361 rushing yards in five postseason games.
Blount now gives the Patriots seven running backs on their roster, joining Dion Lewis (returning from surgery to repair an ACL tear), Brandon Bolden, James White, Donald Brown (signed as a free agent from San Diego), Joey Iosefa and fullback James Develin (who is returning after missing all of last season with an injury).
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