Per source, LeGarrette Blount can earn additional weight incentive
The phrase “worth his weight in gold” takes on a whole new meaning thanks to LeGarrette Blount.
The Philadelphia Eagles haven’t had a back they feel comfortable giving a ton of carries to since LeSean McCoy traded a green jersey for a blue and red one. The fear most had of possibly relying on an injury-prone Ryan Mathews was replaced with the reality that he just couldn’t cut it in the role of “workhorse”. He finished the 2016 season injured and hasn’t been seen on the field of play since. For that reason (and several others) the Eagles plucked LeGarrette Blount out of the NFL‘s free agency pool.
Mathews, in all likelihood, will be released once he’s cleared medically which means Blount is probably the sole chance Philly has to field a running back who can consistently display a physical style. He’s listed as six-foot-tall and over 250 pounds. The Eagles want to see his weight around 240-250 pounds once training camp begins at the end of July. They’ve even added an extra incentive to help ensure that happens.
According to ESPN‘s Field Yates, $50,000 will be on the line.
Keeping the new guy fresh:
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Blount has reached the tender age of 30 and will turn 31 during the 2017 season. Sure, that’s young. It’s just never been viewed as being young for anyone who plays running back in the NFL. Last season, he set career highs in touchdowns with 18. His 1,161 rushing yards were also a career best. Still, carrying the ball 299 times has some worried.
History has typically shown us running backs who’ve carried the ball an exorbitant amount of times can struggle in the following season due to some of the wear and tear. Look no further than DeMarco Murray. Sure, former Eagles coach Chip Kelly used him incorrectly, but carrying the ball 392 times in 2014 for the Dallas Cowboys probably wasn’t a benefit to him physically either.
Blount’s been a man of few words since arriving in Philadelphia. He prefers it that way. When asked what he weighed recently, he responded by saying “I’m gonna be training”. As the next month rolls by, he’ll have plenty of time to bring his weight down.
Expect a leaner and more lightweight LeGarrette Blount when training camp opens. Well, except for the extra $50,000 he’ll be carrying around, of course.