Philadelphia Eagles running back LeGarrette Blount won a Super Bowl with the Patriots last year, but there’s no love for them and that’s the right approach.
Going back to his collegiate days with the Oregon Ducks, no one would truly mistake Philadelphia Eagles running back LeGarrette Blount as the model citizen. He punched an opposing player in the face in college during handshakes, has been arrested and suspended while in the NFL and so on. However, when he’s on the field, there’s no denying that he can be an effective player.
After leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns last season as a member of the New England Patriots, Blount signed with the Eagles. Before the trade deadline, however, a backfield that also already included rookie Corey Clement was made even more crowded as Philadelphia traded for Jay Ajayi. Yet, Blount remained heavily in the rotation and played his role well. Now, he’ll be in Super Bowl LII facing off against the team that helped him get a ring a season ago.
However, if there’s anyone worried about Blount taking it easy on his former teammates, the back quelled those concerns on Thursday. Talking to the media (per NFL.com), Blount had this to say about his approach to the game as it pertains to his former team and teammates:
"“Straight enemies,” Blount emphasized to reporters Thursday. “Ain’t no friends. Ain’t no homies. None of that. We know … We know what we’re going to do. They know what they’re going to do. We both have the same goal in mind. There aren’t any hard feelings, it just is what it is.”"
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As previously stated, Blount has never been a picture-perfect role model. In this instance, however, he is the exact model of the mentality that the Eagles need to bring to Minnesota for Super Bowl LII.
From the dog masks to the general demeanor of Eagles fans, this has been an inspired run by this team to emerge out of the NFC. Without Carson Wentz — their franchise quarterback who was in MVP form prior to the injury — they’ve persevered and even blew out a Vikings team that many might’ve picked even with Wentz on the field.
What they can’t afford to do against the equivalent of the “Final Boss” of the NFL in the big game is to lose that edge. They can’t afford any complacency, any awe or any lack of desire on their part. That’s where Blount’s mentality comes in as such a key.
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For the Eagles, the Patriots are the enemy. And for someone who was on the side of New England last season as Blount was to acknowledge that and set that tone you have to like where Philly is mentally as the game continues to near.