LeGarrette Blount picks up where Jonas Gray left off
FOXBOROUGH - Just as LeGarrette Blount was about to exit the field after his warm-up, Patriots owner Robert Kraft stopped the running back for a quick chat and a hug.
It was nothing out of the ordinary, Kraft likely just wishing Blount well and welcoming back the former Patriot, who re-signed with the team on Thursday after the Steelers released him on Tuesday.
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Yet as simple as it was, it foreshadowed what unfolded in the Patriots' 34-9 win against the Detroit Lions at Gillette Stadium Sunday.
Blount was the Patriots' go-to guy out of the backfield, rushing for 78 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
And Jonas Gray, who had rushed for 201 yards and four scores a week before against the Colts and then graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, did not see the field, finishing as a 'did not play' on the stat sheet next to back-up quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
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On Friday, Gray was sent home from the Patriots practice facility by coach Bill Belichick after showing up late.
The Patriots instead turned to Blount, who walked off the field before the conclusion of Pittsburgh's Monday night victory, a game in which Le'Veon Bell rushed for 204 yards and Blount didn't get any carries.
'You never really know what your role is going to be, regardless of what happens,' Gray said after the win.
'You know, you never know how many carries you're going to get or if you're going to be part of the game plan, so I just prepare and if your number is called, you just have to go out and do what you're going to do.'
When asked about what happened Friday, Gray said he had moved on. 'We're moving past that. I'm glad we got the team win. I think it would've stung more if I didn't play and we lost the game,' Gray said.
'I'm happy for these guys. I just wish I was able to contribute to the win. I was glad we came away with the victory.'
Gray declined to comment on whether his lack of playing time was for disciplinary reasons, as did Belichick, who gave his usual 'We do what we think is best' answer during his postgame press conference.
Regardless, Gray rode a roller coaster of emotions this week, and his teammates felt for him.
'It was kind of heartbreaking in a way, because of what he accomplished the week before,' said cornerback Darrelle Revis, who last month was late for a practice and also was sent home.
'Jonas understands that, and he understands the situation. If you show up late, Bill doesn't like that . . . [Gray] was active, but he probably wanted to play more. Like I said, that's on Bill. He makes the rules, and if you break them you have to face the consequences.'
Once the game unfolded, it was clear the Patriots' plan was to attack the Lions through the air and stay far away from the Detroit's highly touted defensive front, which entered the game allowing a league-low 68.8 yards per game.
Entering the fourth quarter, the game was well out of reach, as the Patriots controlled a 27-6 lead.
By then, the Patriots had run the ball only 10 times. If Gray had played Sunday, it's not certain he even would have had a lot of carries.
Meanwhile, Blount's stat line was inflated. He had just two carries for 5 yards at the half, and eight of his 12 carries came on the Patriots' final clock-killing possession. He scored his second touchdown of the game - a 1-yard plunge - after a Lions penalty negated a Stephen Gostkowski field goal on fourth down. Blount also ripped off 33 of his 78 yards on one carry on the first play of the Patriots' final possession.
Nonetheless, Blount was happy to be back in Gillette Stadium, wearing his old No. 29 and finding the end zone.
'It's fun. It's a blast. I missed it here,' Blount said. 'It's kind of difficult considering I only came in a few days ago. I was used to hearing and listening to different terminology, but as we went along, I started picking things up.'
Given the unceremonious ending with Pittsburgh, was Blount surprised he had such a quick turnaround?
'No,' Blount said, shaking off the question.
In the second quarter, Danny Amendola returned a kickoff 81 yards to the Detroit 22. One play and a penalty later, Blount scored on a 3-yard run to give the Patriots a 14-6 lead.
Blount celebrated by doing former Steelers teammate and close friend Antonio Brown's touchdown dance.
'Yeah, that was to my homie, man,' Blount said. 'He's always going to be a lifelong friend of mine. That was a tribute to him.'
Like most backs, Blount credited his success to his offensive line, and Patriots guard Ryan Wendell was happy to have him back.
'I think it says a lot about him, think it says how hard he worked this week to get back in the rhythm of things, and he didn't skip a beat,' Wendell said. 'LeGarrette loves to run over people, and I like to watch him.'
Anthony Gulizia can be reached at agulizia@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyGulizia.
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