New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 4 suspended stars

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

2. LeGarrette Blount

Ironically, Blount won’t be able to play against his former team in Week 1 because of a violation he committed during his stint with… that team.

Blount was in the Bell’s car last preseason when the two were charged with possession of marijuana. However, Blount managed to get some charges dropped, and that’s why his suspension is one-half that of Bell.

During his sleepover in Pittsburgh, Blount registered 266 yards and two touchdowns on 64 carries. Blount’s best running has been in New England, where he boasts an average of 4.9 yards per carry. That bests his numbers in Tampa Bay (4.6) and Pittsburgh (4.1).

Without Blount in the lineup, Patriots fans can expect a heavy dose of Jonas Gray. James White ought to figure prominently into the distribution of touches; he stood out in preseason action against the Saints, certainly looking better than he did this time last year.

What I really like about Blount is his tendency to fall forward for an extra half-yard or more just about every time he gets tackled. At 245 pounds, Blount isn’t easy to stop cold in his tracks.

Now, here’s the latest suspension between these two teams:

Next: 1. Martavis Bryant