NFL PLAYER NEWS

Ex-Pats RB Blount joins Eagles on one-year deal

The Sports Xchange

May 17, 2017 at 11:38 am.

Jan 1, 2017; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;  New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) during the second  quarter of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Jan 1, 2017; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to a one-year contract with former New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount on Wednesday.

The deal is worth up to a reported $2.8 million for the 30-year-old Blount, who entered free agency after the best season of his seven-year NFL career in 2016.

“LeGarrette Blount is a tough, physical runner who has enjoyed a great deal of success in New England and we are excited about adding him to this football team,” Eagles executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman said in a statement. “We feel good about the depth and competition that we have created at the running back position and we are looking forward to getting the guys out on the field next week for OTAs.”

The Patriots issued a $1.1 million free agent tender to Blount last week in a move that now means Blount will count toward the 2018 compensatory pick formula.

The 6-foot, 250-pound Blount rushed for 1,161 yards on 299 carries and a league-high 18 touchdowns in the 2016 regular season. He gained 109 yards and scored a touchdown in the Patriots’ three postseason contests last season, which ended with a second Super Bowl ring for the power running back.

Blount broke into the NFL in 2010 with Tampa Bay and played three seasons for the Buccaneers. The Patriots acquired Blount in a trade with the Bucs in 2013.

Blount appeared in all 16 games for the Patriots in 2013, then started the 2014 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers before rejoining New England.

In 100 career games, Blount has 5,122 rushing yards on 1,168 carries (4.4 yards per attempt) and 49 rushing touchdowns.