Bucs send Blount to Patriots

Apr 27, 2013 - 9:18 PM New York, NY (Sports Network) - The New England Patriots traded running back Jeff Demps and a seventh-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for running back LeGarrette Blount.

Blount came into the league in 2010 and led all rookies with 1,007 rushing yards on 201 carries. The Oregon product had 781 yards on 184 carries in 2011.

The 6-foot, 247-pound running back was phased out of the Buccaneers' offense last year, carrying the ball just 41 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

"As an organization, this was a team decision that we felt was in the best interest of our football team going forward," Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik said. "And that's why we made the trade. LeGarrette's going into the final year of his contract. We've had LeGarrette here for a couple different [coaching] staffs. LeGarrette's been a good player for us but this is what we felt was best for the organization."

Demps -- a silver medal-winning track star at the 2012 Summer Olympics and a former football standout at the University of Florida -- reportedly would like to continue pursuing both of his athletic endeavors after spending the 2012 NFL season on injured reserve.

"Jeff Demps was part of [the trade], but not the reason," Dominik said. "We were going to do LeGarrette Blount for a seventh-round pick but we asked for the rights to Jeff Demps because we want to investigate that further. We thought it would be worth it to at least get his rights to talk to him. That's a side part of the deal."