New England Patriots: LeGarrette Blount gets issued rare May 9 tender
By Brian Hines
The New England Patriots issued a rare May 9 tender to running back LeGarrette Blount on Wednesday. Find out what it means for him and the team.
Bill Belichick might have just outdone himself again as GM of the New England Patriots.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Patriots exercised a rare tender towards free agent running back LeGarrette Blount. ProFootballTalk.com first broke the news and explained the tender:
"The team acquires exclusive negotiating rights with the player, if he doesn’t sign elsewhere before July 22. From July 22 through the Tuesday after Week 10 of the regular season, the player can sign only with his prior team. Second, if the May 9 tender is made and the player signs with a new team before July 22, the transaction counts toward the compensatory draft pick formula for 2018."
The offer totals 110 percent of Blount’s 2016 salary, which was $1 million. He will earn $1.1 million if he signs the tender, with the ability to earn $2.1 million total with bonuses.
Blount is coming off a career year with 1,161 rushing yards, and he led the league with 18 touchdowns. He has been linked to the New York Giants and Detroit Lions in free agency rumors recently. The tender could ultimately affect his market with other teams around the league.
It seemed like Blount’s time in New England was over after the team signed free agents Rex Burkhead and Mike Gillislee this offseason. They joined an already crowded backfield with Dion Lewis and James White.
With the tender now offered, the Patriots will either have another cheap year of Blount or a 2018 compensatory pick. Two other free agents could have had the tender extended to them as well by New England in Michael Floyd and Greg Scruggs. But neither player received the rare tender. Floyd reportedly agreed to terms Wednesday with the Minnesota Vikings on a one-year deal loaded with incentives.