Blount: Wentz has potential to be 'special' like Brady

PHILADELPHIA – LeGarrette Blount had the best season of his career in 2016 even though he turned 30 years old towards the end of it.

That is an age when most running backs are other out of the NFL or relegated to part-time status.

But Blount, who officially signed a one-year contract with the Eagles on Thursday, was quite blunt when asked why he had a career-high 1,161 yards rushing last season for the New England Patriots, who won the Super Bowl.

"You probably have the best quarterback to ever play football," Blount said about Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. "Tom is an amazing player. He’s a smart player. And when he’s out there, he demands a lot of respect from any team that you play against. So I think that plays a big factor in it."

It just so happens that the Eagles have a quarterback in Carson Wentz whom they're very excited about, and consider the face of the franchise for at least the next decade.

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It's easy to notice that the Eagles spent much of the offseason surrounding Wentz with better players, even at the expense of upgrading the defense.

Blount said the possibility of playing with Wentz, who's entering his second season, certainly got his attention.

"He's a really talented player," Blount said. "Obviously, he's one of the better quarterbacks of his draft class and generation. I think he has the potential to be a really special player. He has all the tools that are needed, and all the grind that is needed, and he has the mindset to maximize his ability if he just continues to work hard.

"Carson is one of those guys you want to build a team around."

Blount, of course, might not be with the Eagles beyond this season for that team building. And the same could be true for the free agent wide receivers the Eagles signed in Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith, who are also essentially on one-year contracts.

But at the very least, the three should provide Wentz with a stabilizing, veteran presence. That was something Wentz did not have last season, when he set an NFL rookie record by attempting 607 passes, while not having a reliable, go-to running back.

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The three were also, at one time or another, among the best in the league at their positions. And for Wentz, that's not a bad stopgap for this season and perhaps 2018.

For Blount, it was a sign that the Eagles are committed to winning this season while still building for the future. And he wants to help in both situations — in performance this season and in serving as a mentor for the Eagles' young running backs in Wendell Smallwood and rookie Donnel Pumphrey.

"I’m one of the older backs here, so I definitely want to make sure the young guys stay on the right track," Blount said. "They have a great group here, especially Sproles, Pumphrey, Smallwood. All those guys. They’ve got a lot of good guys here ... I just wanted to make sure I fit in with the group and make sure they know that I’m here."

Blount said it's easy for him to look at the twilight of his career that way, even though he didn't necessarily admit that he's in his twilight. When Blount was asked how many years he has left, he replied: "As many as I need to play."

That might not have been the case earlier in his career. Blount, after all, was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers midway through the 2014 season when he walked off the field, upset about his lack of carries, before the game was over.

Blount left Tampa Bay after the 2012 season when he became a reserve to Doug Martin, carrying the ball just 41 times for 151 yards in 13 games.

Blount has since been on two Super Bowl championship teams, both with New England. That's why he said he would be fine in a running back by committee scenario, even though he led the NFL with 299 carries last season, plus another 35 in the playoffs.  As a comparison, Ryan Mathews led the Eagles last season with 155 carries.

But the Eagles have Wentz, and that was enticing enough for Blount, who admitted that he did have offers from other teams.

"I chose this place as a place that I wanted to be," Blount said. "A lot of guys that are here are going to be a big part of why this team is going to be successful in the future. So I want to be a part of that. I've been part of something special before, and you just get the feeling they have something special here."

For Blount, that includes the quarterback.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.