NFL Rumors: LeGarrette Blount Should Welcome Selection of Trent Richardson

LeGarrette Blount has made it known that he wouldn't appreciate it if his team selected Trent Richardson with the No. 5 pick in the 2012 NFL draft. If he were smart, Blount would welcome to Alabama running back with open arms. 

When asked how he would feel if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Richardson, Blount replied, "I would not like that pick. I would definitely not be happy with that pick."

I understand that Blount wants to be a feature back, but he has to get in touch with reality. In 2011, the Oregon product had a disappointing season, rushing for just 781 yards and five touchdowns on 184 carries. That followed a 2010 season in which he racked up 1,007 yards and six scores on 201 carries. 

If the Buccaneers did decide to draft Richardson, it would be because they don't have faith in Blount as a long-term solution at the position. After 2011, I can't blame them.

Blount has had issues holding on to the football. He lost three of his five fumbles in 2011, and he also hasn't developed into a reliable pass-catcher or blocker. He hasn't shown the ability to be an every-down back.

If Tampa Bay were to select Richardson, it wouldn't necessarily spell the end of Blount's time in town. In fact, he could thrive in a role as a short-yardage back and use his success in that role to move on to a bigger role elsewhere if he so chose. 

Speaking out about how he wouldn't like his team's potential personnel moves won't do anything to endear Blount to the Bucs, though. In fact, it could just push him further from actually getting touches. 

New Bucs head coach Greg Schiano has always been the kind of guy who loves to pound the rock. In that system, there should be plenty of carries to go around. Blount is likely to share rushes with someone anyway, and he would look much better welcoming a rookie to his team than shooting down the possibility of it happening.

The bottom line is that Schiano's regime didn't bring Blount aboard. They have no reason to be loyal to him, and popping off about potential moves isn't the way to win them over. Blount should publicly embrace anything the team does, since Tampa Bay gave him a chance as an undrafted rookie in 2010.