Bucs Ink Blount To New Contract

March 9th, 2013

TCBlountsmileThe New Schiano Order hasn’t figured out how to use LeGarrette Blount effectively, but at least it knows Blount has value.

Rather than slap a restricted free agent tender on Blount — the deadline is Tuesday — and potentially risk losing him, Tampa Bay went ahead and inked Blount to a new contract, so reports Joel Corry of NationalFootballPost.com. Corry Twittered out details this morning.

                        @corryjoel –  LeGarrette Blount re-signed with the Bucs for 1 year at $1.75M ($1.25M-base salary, $350k-reporting bonus & $150k-workout bonus).

Yes, Greg Schiano wants a bell cow back and has one in Doug Martin. But the reality is the entire Bucs season could come crashing down without a quality backup running back. And Joe believes Blount is not only a guy that can be durable and can carry the load, if needed, he’s also an unused weapon.

Not to be ignored, Blount fixed his ball security issues from 2011, and didn’t record a fumble during the regular season or preseason.

Hopefully, running backs coach Earnest Byner can further develop Blount, and Mike Sullivan can figure out how to use him effectively. The Ravens cut Ray Rice’s carries by nearly 20 percent last season and won a Super Bowl.

51 Responses to “Bucs Ink Blount To New Contract”

  1. BiggersIsland Says:

    I think this is obciously for revis.. I may be mistaken though

  2. Pewter_Power Says:

    @Joe
    What do you mean he didn’t record a fumble? He had that fumble in Oakland that almost cost us the game and threw away a huge day by Doug Martin.

  3. Joe Says:

    That fumble was officially credited to Josh Freeman for the very high placement into Blount. Feel free the check the record or the replay.

  4. @MikeInTampa2 Says:

    That fumble was Freeman’s fault. Glad he’s back. Unfinished Business

  5. DanTheMan Says:

    Martin is great but Blount is unstoppable at the second level. Would really like to see more of “riding the hot hand”. Martin had some stinkers last year.

  6. FlBoy84 Says:

    Believe this also makes him tradeable as well.

  7. Vic Says:

    Great news! With the the a-hole media out there talking about how Blount is a bad apple and his character issues, this should shut them up. There are all kinds of free agent backup running backs that could have been had. Schiano wanted Blount and for good reason. Now throw the guy a damn swing pass once in a while and let him run people over.

  8. bucrightoff Says:

    Can’t complain about the value here. Even if he sits its one year and gets us closer to the floor. Can always be traded too.

  9. Snook Says:

    Awesome. Paid to sit on the bench. I’m sure he’s so excited.

  10. Bucsmafia Says:

    @BiggersIsland, Doubt it highly& @ Pewter_Power, A blind man could see that was on Freeman! Blount was F$^%ed without lube last year by the buc’s because he was not Schieno’s man. Blount is a starter on most other rosters! Imagin BLOUNT in Greenbay….

  11. 1976Buc Says:

    This is a really crazy question but are the Bucs looking to trade Martin for a #1 corner and a stupid amount of draft picks?

  12. @MikeInTampa2 Says:

    @FlBoy84 <— That's an excellent point. Green Bay could really use Blount.

  13. MegaDaveUK Says:

    @pewterpower – I think you’ll find when you rewatch the game it was Freemans fault there was a fumble, a truly awful hand off (infact, it was more of a chuck).

    Blount is a solid starter for 50% of NFL Teams – I’m thrilled to have him on our bench and his shirt on my back

  14. Kevin Says:

    Solid signing. Not flashy, but this is a $1.75M insurance policy. A 1000 yard back as an inexpensive back-up is very good thing.

  15. FlBoy84 Says:

    @1976
    Would think if anything they would trade their #1 and Blount for Revis, as the Jets don’t have a lead RB right now.

  16. DougMartin22 Says:

    Blount will be traded for a 3rd or 4th round pick.

  17. Bucsmafia Says:

    @ FlBoy84 , I would not give up a 1st and Blount, Revis is coming off an injury!
    Maybe a third and Blount with a redone contract being revis is in the last year of contract, which is why they are trying to trade him by the way.

  18. 1976Buc Says:

    Sure does make one think and opens up a lot of possibilities before draft day. Don’t assume Martin won’t be traded. This could get interesting.

  19. FlBoy84 Says:

    @Bucsmafia,
    If Revis is healthy and the other teams have a window to work out a contract with him, can’t see the Jets just giving him away. Guy’s the most talented CB in the league when healthy.

  20. TrueBlue Says:

    Guess this ends any consideration for drafting a running back before the 6th round. So now we know that other positions will be addressed with all the higher picks. Who we pick up in other free agents, our own and others, in the next 30 days will tell a lot more.

    If we sign one defensive back FA we draft two in the first three rounds. If we sign two FA’s DB’s we draft one. The wild cards, and there are two, are whether or not the Bucs keep Barber and Wright. If either or both go it’s more likely to be two FA’s and two draftees.

  21. MegaDaveUK Says:

    I am laughing hard at the “Martin will be traded” – seriously, you sound like a Jets fan rofl

  22. 1976Buc Says:

    @mega: I didn’t say “will” be traded. I did say he could be traded for a #1 shut down corner and a ton of draft picks or even a multi player deal. This also opens up trade possibilities for Blount. I hope we don’t give away a bunch of picks if we do.

  23. Bucsmafia Says:

    they are not going to trade martin…..that is all!

  24. 1976Buc Says:

    I heard the same thing about Blount after his 1K+ season a couple of years ago LOL. Then he sits the bench. The possibilities are endless is all I’m saying. I bet “The Dom’s” head is spinning right now. Say what you want but if Martin “was” traded and we got a real CB, a few high round draft picks, kept Blount who some seem to forget is a healthy 1000 yd rusher…well….

  25. FlBoy84 Says:

    Yasinkas makes an interesting point over on Rotoworld, basically stating he considers it agent laziness due to the “fact that he signed this deal before even testing a weak running back market. He at least should’ve gotten a small signing bonus”. Either Blount just loves being a Buc, or the team made it known that if he signed the deal, they’d make a concerted effort to trade him to a team where he’d more of an opportunity for carries. Curious how this unfolds.

  26. 76buc76 Says:

    1976 Buc’s was right.The buc’s just traded McCoy,V-Jax and Martin for Reevis and the Jet’s entire 2013 and 2014 draft class.Wait wait I think I’m still drunk and having a nightmare.

  27. 4everBucsFan Says:

    It’s good the Bucs signed him. I mean Blount has talent and he comes incredibly cheap. IF TB had not signed him, someone else would have.

  28. 76buc76 Says:

    It seem’s these QB needy team’s are not all that intrested in Geno.If he fall’s to us we take him.

  29. 1976Buc Says:

    76Buc76, I love the name btw. Strange things happen around draft season lol.

  30. 1976Buc Says:

    And who says Martin is happy in Tampa? Hmmmm!

  31. andres Says:

    @1976Buc The back of my hand is coming, dood better duck 🙂 JK. That is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard on this board. Trade Dougie for Revis!? My god man!

  32. J 2.0 Says:

    Revis will not be a Buc. Sorry. He’ll get $15 million next off season. I don’t care how good he is no CB is worth that money.

  33. J 2.0 Says:

    Who says Martin isn’t happt in Tampa. One things for sure he won’t be happy getting wrecked by defenses because defense are stacking the box against the run in NY because Sanchez can’t complete a pass. Ask Cadillac how much he liked Gradkowski at QB. Also Rex Ryan is an ass-clown (though hillarious in “That’s My Boy”).

  34. 1976Buc Says:

    Revis never came out of my mouth. I would not trade anyone for him. Oh ye of simple thinking. There are others. Dougie had 2 or 3 historic games, outside those his season was mediocre.

  35. 4everBucsFan Says:

    @76buc76

    I would draft E.J. Manuel before Geno Smith.

  36. 1976Buc Says:

    Championships are not won with simple thinking.

  37. FlBoy84 Says:

    @1976,
    So mediocre he made the Pro Bowl. Talk about simple thinking.

  38. gotbbucs Says:

    @1976
    Hitting the sauce a little bit early this morning aren’t we?

    What’s that saying “Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt”?

  39. Walter Says:

    @1976Buc 2 historic games and every other game was mediocre? The dude racked up over 1,900 total yards, I doubt even 1/3rd of that came in two games. You sir, are a fool.

  40. 1976Buc Says:

    Look, I’m a Doug Martin fan. I am also a realist. Take away his 2 best game and his 2 worst and average for yourself. It’s about a 85 yd per game average. Still a 1000 yard season but barely. He is not a franchise player, at least yet. The Bucs have said they will not use it this year. So if you think a 85 yard per game player is not tradeable you have been hitting more than “sauce”. Martin is a good player that has the potential to be great. He is replaceable just as any other player on this team. Blount did a hell of a lot better his rookie season without the million dollar O-line in front of Martin at least parts of this year.

  41. 1976Buc Says:

    @Walter he rushed for 1454 yards and yes he had games of 251, 142 and 138. He also had games of 16, 33 and 50. That’s why I said drop the 2 highest and 2 lowest. then do your average.

  42. 1976Buc Says:

    A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer. Thinking out of the box wins championships.

  43. SilenceTheCritics Says:

    but making questionable moves such as that… usually doesnt.

  44. gotbbucs Says:

    “A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.”

    Yes, we have all learned not to take much more that you say today too seriously.

    I’m not trying to pile on here, but you can’t possibly think that trading a RB that we just traded up into the 1st round to get a year ago, who was ultra productive despite what you say even though he wasn’t used in the passing game nearly as much as he should have, is a sound franchise decision. I had my doubts about Martin early in the year I will admit, but he erased those midway through the year. Our offense runs through him now.

  45. gotbbucs Says:

    …..if anything, this is a very trade friendly deal to whoever may be interested in aquiring Blount. That is a trade that very well could happen now.

  46. 1976Buc Says:

    All I’m saying is that we don not have a franchise player on this team. I’m not advocating trading Martin. I am saying to take anyone off the table at this point is foolish. If there was an interest in Martin and could be pulled off in favor of the Bucs ie; a player plus draft picks we would be foolish not to consider it. Do I think this will happen? Not really. But if you think Shiano and Dom are married to anyone on this team that is foolish thinking.

  47. 4everBucsFan Says:

    ^^^^ STFU

  48. Walter Says:

    @1976Buc he ran for 1,400 yards, he also caught passes totaling in an extra 400+ yards, so he had over 1,900 total yards. And you said he averaged 85 yards a game without his two best games?? 85yds a game over a 16 game season is still over 1,300 yards, so not barely over 1,000. You are not thinking straight. We have a legitimate every down running back, you don’t trade those away. Every team wants a running back that can do what Martin can.

  49. 1976Buc Says:

    Walter: I said drop the rushing yards from his 2 highest games and his 2 lowest games and then divide by 12 it’s close to 85 yds per game average. Look, I have never said Martin isn’t a good player. Hell, he might be a great player..no arguments. He will have to have more than one good season for me to have a Hamster orgasm like some of you. Yes, we traded up to get him, yes he had a good year so did Blount his first year. My point in this whole conversation is that IMO, for the right deal, he could be traded. Schiano and Dom would trade anyone on this team for the right deal. If not, they would have put a franchise tag on them.

  50. SilenceTheCritics Says:

    Any player in the entire league could be traded for “the right deal”.

  51. scubog Says:

    As far as I’m concerned it’s been the media the past year and a half who have continued to criticize Blount and the fans just keep repeating it. It’s as if they collectively made their own player evaluation based on absolutely minimal evidence. “Blount can’t catch” but we rarely saw him thrown the ball and in the practices I watched he caught the ball just fine. “He can’t block in pass protection” Again, there is little evidence due to his limited opportunities. I know this much, the dude can flat out run over or jump over people. I don’t profess to know if he has a grasp of the playbook or is mastering the details of a play, but I know it took Cadillac Williams a few years to develop those non-running skills too. I’ll take # 27 over a lot of other available backs.