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          NFL Nation

          LeGarrette Blount meeting with Patriots

          • Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff WriterNov 20, 2014, 08:20 AM ET
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              Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. You can follow Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReiss.
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          Free-agent running back LeGarrette Blount, who was released by the Steelers on Tuesday, is meeting with the New England Patriots today, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson. In addition, Anderson reports that Blount is expected to sign.

          The "pros and cons" of re-signing Blount were examined on Tuesday, with a reader poll indicating that 68 percent were not in favor of the move as of Thursday morning.

          First-year running back Jonas Gray had a breakout game in Sunday's win over the Colts, rushing for 201 yards with four touchdowns to earn AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. At 230 pounds, Gray is the team's top big back, and he's backed up by Brandon Bolden in the role, with Bolden's contributions on special teams making him a valuable member of the roster.

          The Patriots complement their big backs with smaller, shiftier personnel, as Shane Vereen (5-foot-10, 205) is the top running back in that role. He is backed up by rookie James White (5-10, 206), a fourth-round pick out of Wisconsin.

          Adding Blount would create a surplus at the position, but the Patriots might view it as worth it based on Blount's success with the team in 2013.