By Josh Liddick, Sports Talk Philly editor
I'm sure we at Sports Talk Philly will highlight LeGarrette Blount's previous experience on the NFL's biggest stage as we lead up to the Eagles in Super Bowl LII next Sunday, but for now, Blount made it very clear that his focus is on the Birds and nothing else.
While Blount may have rushed for a total of 2,917 yards and 34 touchdowns on 677 carries in four seasons with the New England Patriots, he clarified that the Patriots and everyone on it, "is the enemy."
"Straight enemy mode," Blount told reporters Thursday. "Ain't no friends. Ain't no homies. None of that. We know … We know what we're going to do. They know what they're going to do. We both have the same goal in mind. There aren't any hard feelings, it just is what it is."
You do have to admire Blount's loyalty to the Eagles, even if he does go one-and-done at season's end. But there is something special about a player willing to do whatever it takes to win another championship, if it means you have to go through your old stomping ground to get there.
In an interview with NJ.com, Blount made sure where his position stands on this topic, hopefully ceasing any future questions that may surround him about this.
"I play for the Eagles now," Blount said. "I don't play for the Patriots, anymore. I don't watch the Patriots. I don't care about the Patriots. I just focus on what we need to do put us in the best position to win this game. I had a great time there last year, but, last year is last year."
Blount provided a big role for the Eagles this season, especially after Darren Sproles was ruled out for the season with a torn ACL. Even with the mid-season addition of Jay Ajayi to the fold, the Eagles never lost sight of what Blount meant to this offense, and Blount never faltered or changed the way he ran with the ball.
Although his numbers weren't as flashy as the type of production he had in 2016 with the Patriots, the kind of power, ground-and-pound runner that Blount is known for proved to be quite an asset to the spectacular Philly that included Ajayi and Corey Clement.
On his 173 carries, Blount rushed for 766 yards and only two touchdowns. He finished 2017, averaging 4.4 yards per carry, 47.9 yards per game.