LeGarrette Blount Suspended: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

The New England Patriots will be without running back LeGarrette Blount for their first game of the 2015 season, as the NFL has suspended him for violating its substance-abuse policy.       

Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday passed along the news Tuesday:

Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports and Shalise Manza Young of The Boston Globe provided some context to the suspension:

Assuming Garafolo is correct, the suspension stems from Blount's arrest last August for marijuana possession while a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The five-year veteran started the 2014 season with Pittsburgh, but the Steelers released him in mid-November. A day after going unclaimed on waivers, he signed a two-year deal with New England, where he spent the entire 2013 season.

Blount appeared in five regular-season games for the Patriots in 2014, finishing with 281 rushing yards and three touchdowns in those contests. He provided a major boost in the playoffs, however, carrying the Pats in the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts to the tune of 148 rushing yards and three touchdowns. 

With running back Shane Vereen having signed with the New York Giants in free agency, Blount was expected to take on a larger role in the New England offense this coming season. Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk suggested New England would make do without Vereen, largely because of Blount's presence.

"The Patriots will feel the loss of Vereen, but they should be fine at running back with LeGarrette Blount, Jonas Gray, Brandon Bolden and James White all on the depth chart," Smith wrote.

However, that was before Blount’s suspension, which could open the door for one of the other running backs on Smith's list to make an early impression.

The running back situation has always been fluid in New England under head coach Bill Belichick, and it figures to be no different in 2015. Blount will have to work his way back into the team’s good graces and up the depth chart with some impressive performances on the field in Week 2 and beyond.