LeGarrette Blount: Tennessee Titans Rookie Throws Punch Again

After LeGarrette Blount, a rookie running back for the Tennessee Titans, had his helmet ripped off on back-to-back plays during training camp, he decided that he had taken enough of a beating.

But instead of keeping his cool, Blount decided to take matters into his own hands, specifically the right one.

The pushing and shoving after the play was natural. It happens at every football game. But then Blount used his right fist and threw a punch at the facemask of Titans defensive end Eric Bakhtiari.

While he almost immediately went over to head coach Jeff Fisher and apologized, he needs to be held accountable for his actions.

Remember that Blount was suspended for eight games during his senior season at the University of Oregon for throwing a punch after a game at Boise State defensive end Byron Hout. That fateful game occurred on September 3^rd and Blount was forced to miss the vast majority of his final season as a Duck.

The punishment had even more consequences to his playing career as NFL scouts worried both about his temperament and his lack of play. Blount slipped down the draft boards and went undrafted.

He was without a team until the Titans picked him up as a free agent.

Blount has a history of violent, rash actions. Eventually he needs to be held to the same standard as other players. 

Yes, there are many NFL players who commit much more egregious offenses, but Blount still needs to be taught a lesson. 

Instead of giving him a stern talking to, Fisher decided to simply look the other way, saying “He apologized, and I said he didn't have to apologize. It’s football. It’s training camp.” 

But the coach is wrong here. Unnecessary violence is inexcusable, especially coming from a player with a history of such offenses.

Fisher went on to say, “his past is his past. Is that the first punch you've seen in camp this year? No. I'm not disappointed whatsoever. I have great confidence in the young man that he learned from his mistake, and he's very competitive. That's why we brought him in here is to watch him run the football like that.”

While Fisher’s position does have some validity, it’s important to remember that this is the same coach who rostered Albert Haynseworth. 

Blount’s punch was nowhere near as bad as Haynesworth’s stomp, but, at some point, Fisher needs to learn his lesson and teach Blount one.