UPDATE: Steelers Release Blount

By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Steelers won a game but have a new problem, a rare one for them. Backup halfback LeGarrette Blount, apparently upset because he had just three carries against Tennessee, left the field before the game was over.

He dressed and left the locker room, apparently headed for the team bus that would take them to the airport. At least one player thought they should leave him in Nashville.

Blount has been an internal problem for at least a month for the Steelers and sources told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he is dragging down star halfback Le’Veon Bell, even though that obviously was not the case Monday night when Bell ran 33 times for 204 yards. Blount gained 2 yards on his only three carries.

The Steelers signed Blount as a free agent this year and they are his fourth NFL team in five years. He was suspended for most of his final season at Oregon for punching an opposing player.

There was no immediate indication what, if any, discipline coach Mike Tomlin might take against Blount but some players have been pushing for them to release him because of his poor attitude. Several weeks ago, Blount had complained to a reporter from 93.7 The Fan about his lack of carries with the Steelers.

Blount has 266 yards rushing this season on 65 carries. Bell has 951 yards on 195 carries.



http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/s...s/201411180148



Whoa!

damnit. we had a good one two punch going. if he is released who do we turn to?

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Originally Posted by Psycho Ward 86

damnit. we had a good one two punch going. if he is released who do we turn to?

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It's not a good 1-2 punch if one guy is only getting a handful of carries a game. Not making excuses for Blount's attitude, just saying.

Why does there always have to be drama? *sigh*

Blount probably had a little bit of a legitimate contention --

But you don't leave the team during a game. If he really did that, you cut him.

The last thing this team needs is a locker room cancer. Cut him.

Felix Jones' phone will be ringing any second now...

I wonder what exactly he was expecting when he signed a deal to be the backup running back. And when the guy in front of him is tearing it up. Take your $2M or $3M and shut up.

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Originally Posted by Steelerette

Felix Jones' phone will be ringing any second now...

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It'll be a prank call.

Adrian Peterson - vet minimum. Get it done, Colbert. :chuckle:

What's Ron Dayne doing these days?

Wow what a moron. Glad Joey talked some sense into him.

Cut him, josh harris would be so freaking excited to play behind Bell!

Blount has been, and still is, a cancer to most if not every team he is on. Suspended senior season at Oregon for punching a rival player and then wanting to go into the stands after fans. His stint with the Buccaneers had rumors of him showing up late to practices, falling asleep in team meetings, etc. Now with the Steelers, get arrested for smoking the Ganja with our best running back and then being a selfish ass bag when he doesn't get what he wants by storming out of the locker room. If I was Tomlin I would have told him right then and there to find your own way home and that your stuff will be waiting outside the Steelers practice facility tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by steelreserve

I wonder what exactly he was expecting when he signed a deal to be the backup running back. And when the guy in front of him is tearing it up. Take your $2M or $3M and shut up.

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Exactly. He needs to stop acting like a spoiled little brat and be grateful his teammate is kicking ass and the TEAM is winning!

Too bad he's acting like a dickhead cause he's GOT talent and great complimentary skills to LeVeon's skills.

Hopefully, some on the team get talk some sense into him before he hurts the team AND himself.

Tomlin has some discipline to mete out. Let's see how he handles it.

I can understand if he's upset about not getting carries but grow the hell up. You're a backup and Bell's the starter. If this is how he's going to act then I want him off this team ASAP.

Blount was heard mumbling as he walked away , fine then I will take my balls and go home


as a side note , perhaps Blount did not get any carries as punishment for being a locker room problem for the past month ?

Maybe this situation was completely created by him and then he turns around and acts out on the fall out of the internal punishment creating even more issues in the process ...

before it was an internal problem that not many where privy to , now its a public problem the team will be forced into doing some sort of publicly noted punishment in order to stave off anything future by other players down the road .... Tomlin needs to get his house in order in quick fashion the games get no easier moving forward and the team focus needs to be on those games not a backup player showing his ass

Dude, where's my car-ries?

They should have given the ball to Blount more. You do not want to risk injury to Bell. Keep him fresh down the line. That being said, Blount needs to grow up. If he was 10 years old I could maybe understand his poor attitude.

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Originally Posted by Steeldude

They should have given the ball to Blount more. You do not want to risk injury to Bell. Keep him fresh down the line. That being said, Blount needs to grow up. If he was 10 years old I could maybe understand his poor attitude.

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This 100%!! Blount should've gotten carries...just based on the fact to save Bell some punishment and not risk injury.

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Originally Posted by 86WARD

This 100%!! Blount should've gotten carries...just based on the fact to save Bell some punishment and not risk injury.

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see my post above ... perhaps an explanation as to why

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There was no immediate indication what, if any, discipline coach Mike Tomlin might take against Blount but some players have been pushing for them to release him because of his poor attitude.

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Sorry but he needs to be cut today, if other players can see that but Tomlin and the other higher ups in the organization don't then this team has some serious problems.

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Originally Posted by Dwinsgames

see my post above ... perhaps an explanation as to why

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I understand that but to potentially overwork Bell just to prove a point to Blount...I have a problem with that. What if Bell had gotten injured? I understand proving a point to Blount or punish Blount, but don't do it at the expense of a franchise back.

Didn't Mean Joe Greene leave during a game because he was upset? I believe it was in 1969. At least I remember reading something about it. Greene did many things that you would be banned for now. Food for thought : )

Tomlin should address the issue immediately. Let Blount know where he stands and what is expected of him if he wants to remain part of the team.

The internet seems to indicate Blount's attitude goes beyond this incident and multiple players want him gone. This is the kinda thing that will demonstrate what kind of control Tomlin has over the locker room. Way more so than some of the stuff we worry about on this board, the Blount situation is one that can break a team.

Makes one wonder if this kinda thing is why the Pats were so keen to let him go?

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

The internet seems to indicate Blount's attitude goes beyond this incident and multiple players want him gone. This is the kinda thing that will demonstrate what kind of control Tomlin has over the locker room. Way more so than some of the stuff we worry about on this board, the Blount situation is one that can break a team.

Makes one wonder if this kinda thing is why the Pats were so keen to let him go?

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If Belichick finds him to be uncontrollable then that says something.

It looks like Blount will be another future, broke athlete when his career ends. What are the odds he ends up in prison?