Rooney: Steelers were right to release LeGarrette Blount
Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II said the team made the right choice to release running back LeGarrette Blount during the middle of the season, ESPN's Scott Brown reports.
The Steelers cut Blount after the team's Week 11 victory over the Tennessee Titans. After not receiving a carry in the game, Blount left the field before the end of the contest. He promptly re-signed with the New England Patriots and will play in Super Bowl XLIX.
Despite Blount's success with the Patriots, Rooney defended the team's decision to release him.
"Obviously we don't want to have those kind of things happen in the middle of the season but it is what it is and I think we made the decision [to release Blount] for the right reasons," Rooney said. "Not going to worry about it too much. We just have to make sure that we make a better decision this year and fill that position with someone we're comfortable with and who will be a good fit."
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In five regular season games with the Patriots, Blount rushed for 281 yards and three touchdowns. He has rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns in the team's first two playoff games.
Steelers starting running back Le'Veon Bell finished the season with 1,361 rushing yards and eight touchdowns to go along with 854 yards and three touchdowns. With an injured Bell out of the lineup, the Steelers lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
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Bell was selected to his first Pro Bowl, but will not play as he recovers from the knee injury.
- Paul Palladino
