LeGarrette Blount's season is over, but this year's brightest light in the Patriots' backfield hopes he'll still be in New England when September rolls around.
GMC Never Say Never Moment
"We'll see. I'd like to be here, but we'll see how it goes," Blount told reporters Monday after the team's playoff loss to the Denver Broncos.
Blount said he hasn't met with coach Bill Belichick about his expiring contract, but NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport has heard that the "feeling is mutual" about bringing the runner back for 2014.
Blount gushed over the roster's "hard, tough-nosed" vibe, saying: "A lot of guys in here are underdogs or undrafted guys -- or not first-round guys -- coming in and stepping up and doing things people didn't expect them to do. We've come out here and proved people wrong a bunch of times this year."
Especially Blount, who produced his third 700-plus-yard campaign in four seasons after the Patriots swapped a pair of low draft picks and track star Jeff Demps to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the hard-charging runner.
Blount distinguished himself down the stretch, emerging from a crowded backfield to run for four-plus yards per carry in 10 of his last 12 games in 2013. Nobody ran well against Denver on Sunday, but Blount stole the show one week earlier with 166 yards and four touchdowns against the Colts. Cleaning out his locker on Monday, he spoke repeatedly about the team above himself.
That's the kind of player Belichick can work with.
The "Around The League Podcast" recapped all the Conference Championship week action.
