Patriots' Blount is glad Chip Kelly stuck with him

PHOENIX - LeGarrette Blount's football career seemed in peril after he threw a punch at an opposing player following Boise State's upset of Oregon in 2009. The incident came in Chip Kelly's first game as the Ducks' head coach.

Kelly needed to make a decision about Blount's future. He suspended the running back but kept Blount on scholarship and in the football program.

Kelly ultimately reinstated Blount after the running back met certain academic and behavioral conditions. That helped save Blount's career, which continues Sunday when he plays in the Super Bowl as a key part of the New England Patriots' offense.

"I think it would have been very difficult had Chip suspended him and he hadn't played and didn't hang in there and stay with the program and do the things set up for him to do," said former Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy, who is now an analyst on NBC. "I think Coach Kelly and that whole Oregon group deserves a lot of credit."

Kelly consulted with Dungy when determining the discipline. It was the first time Kelly and Dungy ever spoke. Kelly explained his decision, trying to balance what was best for Blount and the team.

"I thought that was perfect," Dungy said. "That told me a lot about Chip Kelly - he not only cared about his role as the head coach, but he cared about his players."

Kelly has been an advocate of Blount's ever since. When the Patriots practiced with the Eagles during Kelly's first training camp, in 2013, he found Blount, gave him a big hug, and expressed how proud he was of his former running back.

"I told him he shouldn't be defined by an incident that happened on Sept. 3, 2009, because that's not the type of person LG is," Kelly said that summer.

"It showed me that he has my back," Blount said Wednesday. "He's going to always have my back. I appreciate it to the fullest."

Blount's rocky NFL career has taken him to four teams already. Although he was cut by Tennessee, he was a 1,000-yard rusher as a rookie in Tampa Bay but ultimately fell out of favor and was traded to New England. Blount rushed for 772 yards last season with the Patriots before signing with the Steelers as a free agent.

His Steelers tenure did not even last a season. Blount was arrested before a preseason game against the Eagles and charged with marijuana possession. (He was ordered to complete 50 hours of community service.) Blount was waived after walking off the field early in a November game in which he did not carry the ball at all.

Kelly reached out to Blount after he was waived to tell him to remain positive. The Patriots wanted to bring Blount back - coach Bill Belichick said they didn't want him to leave in the first place.

Belichick met with Blount, quickly re-signed him, and gave him a role in the offense as a power runner who can fight through contact. In the Patriots' AFC championship game victory over Indianapolis, Blount rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns.

"We were excited to get him back," Belichick said. "And when he got here, he was excited to be back. . . . And I think he's been a good addition to our team, very popular guy in the locker room."

Blount, 28, is now more than five years removed from the incident at Boise State. He has become a dependable rusher and could be a major factor in the Super Bowl. That career was helped by Kelly's sticking with Blount in 2009.

"He's done things to help me along the way, back since college," Blount said. "I appreciate everything."