Let's be 'Blount': Former Steeler LeGarrette Blount gives his story on why things went so bad for him in Pittsburgh

Appearing on 93.7 The Fan from Radio Row at the Super Bowl, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back LeGarrette Blount cleared up some questions about his time in Pittsburgh.

Blount signed with the Steelers before the 2014 season. But he didn’t make it through the entire year. Because on Nov. 17, after failing to get a single touch all day for the first time that season, he left the sidelines during a game against the Tennessee Titans while his offense was running out the clock.

As a result, Blount was released, finishing his Steelers tenure with 266 yards and two touchdowns. On Nov. 20, 2014, after clearing waivers, Blount signed a two-year deal with the New England Patriots.

On Wednesday, Blount told hosts Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller that his beef wasn’t with Mike Tomlin, rather it was with former offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

“The problem was the offensive coordinator not calling the plays that I would be in,” Blount said, adding Haley would try to pacify him during the week leading up to games. “‘We got to get the ball to you. We’ll do more and more to get you the ball. We’re going to get it to you.’ Obviously, I’m going to believe that because it’s my offensive coordinator. So, I’m going to trust what he’s saying.”

But Blount insists that trust was never paid off. Blount’s version of the story is that, at signing, he was told that he would be splitting carries with Le’Veon Bell. Perhaps not a 50-50 split. But it was Blount’s belief he’d get at least 10-15 touches per game.

“Twenty-five. Forty. Forty-five carries. Whatever (Bell) had, it’s just uncalled for when you got another running back that can take 15 of those carries — and can still be just as productive,” Blount continued.

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Blount also tried to dispel the belief he had an under-the-table deal with the Patriots in advance of leaving the field.

“I knew it was a possibility because I was going to be available. But we didn’t coordinate it or anything like that. I didn’t talk to anybody,” Blount said.

I’m not sure about that. But that history is long since written.

Blount was more productive in five games with the Patriots than he was in 11 with the Steelers in 2014. He totaled 60 carries for 281 yards, a 4.7 yards-per-carry average and three touchdowns. In the playoffs, Blount had 189 yards rushing in three games with three touchdowns as the Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl.

Blount would win three rings in his career, two in New England and one in Philadelphia. For the Patriots he posted 703 yards on the ground in 2015 and 1,161 on 299 attempts in 2016. He also set a New England franchise record with 18 rushing touchdowns in 2016.

It brings the Melvin Ingram III situation of 2021 into light, doesn’t it? Why does this keep happening in Pittsburgh? What are Mike Tomlin, Kevin Colbert and the other coaches promising these guys that other teams don’t — only to have reality hit the players midway through the season that they aren’t getting what they signed on to do?

The same could be said about the ugly divorce between James Harrison and the franchise his second time through town at the end of 2017. Another stint that wound up with a player pouting his way out of town to the Patriots.

The Steelers don’t dabble all that much in free agency as it is. If free agents catch on that they often get sold a false bill of goods when they come here, it’ll be all the more difficult to get available talent to buy into what the team is selling.

Well, that, plus the fact nine of the last 11 seasons have ended without a playoff victory.

Yeah. That, too.