Steelers’ LeGarrette Blount Released For Leaving Field Before Game Ends

LeGarrette Blount learned a valuable NFL lesson; there’s getting cut, then there’s getting axed.

CBS Sports is reporting that Blount has been officially waved from the Steelers due to inappropriate conduct. Near the end of the Steelers’ 27-24 comeback victory against the Baltimore Ravens, reports abound that Blount had become increasingly upset with his lack of playing time, especially in light of the fact that Blount was watching LaVeon Bell rush for over 200 yards in the Steelers’ win. It’s been reported that Blount has expressed his dissatisfaction throughout the last few weeks.

Many players had gone to head coach Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh asking that something be done in regards to Blount and his aberrant behavior as of late. Sunday’s act seems to be the last straw. Just before the game against the Ravens ended, Blount grabbed his helmet and walked off the field. For any team, this kind of behavior is inexcusable. For a tight-knit family like the Steelers, this behavior is completely beyond that, especially with head coach Mike Tomlin’s job on the line.

“We believe the decision to release LeGarrette is in the best interest of the organization and wish him the best of luck,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in the statement.

Blount did have a decent season,averaging 4.1 yards per carry on 65 yards per carry, scoring two touchdowns. But, with the success Bell has been having this season, Blount became a secondary option.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that Josh Harris, a rookie running back from Wake Forest who is on the Steelers practice squad, has been signed to replace Blount.

“You know what, man, we have a good team,” said center and team captain Maurkice Pouncey. “If you don’t want to be here, don’t be here. At the end of the day you have your decision to make as a man, and he made it.”

Pouncey said Blount’s release was “a blessing in disguise.”

“We’re fine,” Pouncey said. “We have our starting running back. It’s probably a good thing that it happened. At the end of the day, if it was a cancer, he ended up leaving on his own. That’s a blessing for us. At the end of the day, we’re good. We don’t need him.”

Standout Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, a friend of Blount’s, said “I hate to see him do something like that and have to cause the result,” Brown said. “As a competitor, he let his emotions get the best of him. He got outside the grand scheme of things that are really important. What’s important is we play as a team; you embrace your teammates; you ride together. When we win it should be positive.”

,[Image courtesy Steelers.com]