Patriots Trade Jeff Demps to Buccaneers Get LeGarrette Blount
The New England Patriots are more active than ever in this year’s draft. After many rumors and talks about trading Jeff Demps as Demps is well inclined to play football and track, the trade is done as reported by Ian Rapoport. The Buccaneers traded running back LeGarrette Blount to the Patriots in exchange for a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft and Jeff Demps.
October 14, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back LeGarrette Blount (27) runs against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Last year, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano expressed a great-deal of interest in acquiring Demps, but Belichick was faster in signing the Olympian. Earlier today, Boston Herald Jeff Howe reported that the trade was imminent as Daniel Rose, Demps agent said: “Jeff is going to do both football and track, and there are teams that won’t have a problem with that.”
This is a good trade as Bill Belichick prefers to have his player’s full attention to football and if the Buccaneers don’t have a problem with that, which apparently is all good with Greg Schiano, then it’s a perfect trade. The main issue with Belichick is that he requires focus from a player and having a player occupying a roster spot without his fully devotion to the team, it’s something that doesn’t quite work.
Although Blount signed a one-year contract earlier this year, it was never certain that he would be playing in Tampa this season as the impression was that he wasn’t a good fit for Schiano’s offense and rookie Doug Martin took care of the opportunity and load in the running game. What concerns me about Blount is durability.
Earlier last season (week 5) he suffered a knee injury in a game against the San Francisco 49’ers and was forced to miss weeks 6 and 7. He is only 26 years old, carried just 41 times for 151 yards, while Martin got the rest of the load finishing the season with 319 carries for 1,454 yards. One of the most remarkable moments of his career was back in 2011 when he broke free from eight Green Bay Packers tacklers and scored a 54 yard touchdown. Blount can certainly represent a value if he improves on third-down plays and pass protection. We’ll see if he can get into Belichick’s program effortless.
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