LeGarrette Blount is “an involved party” in a fight that took place at a youth football game over the weekend, and according to reports was seen throwing punches. The former NFL running back was coaching the GCYFC Gators against the Chandler Elite Bears in Gilbert, Arizona, last Saturday. Police are now investigating the situation.
At the conclusion of the game in the handshake line Blount appeared to take exception to language directed at him by an opposing coach. Video footage captured by a drone shows an animated Blount motioning toward the opposing coaches. Blount is then seen sprinting toward the other coaches looking to confront them. The video also shows Blount throwing punches at a man in a white T-shirt.
Several other adults and parents of children got involved in the skirmish, and Blount was ultimately restrained. The verbal arguments continued even after the physicality calmed down. By the time police arrived on the scene the fight was over and no injuries were reported.
Blount apologized for his actions:
“As a leader, coach, father and a role model I understand my actions are unacceptable,” he said. “I hope and pray for your understanding and forgiveness and plan to continue to be a positive impact in the lives of our youth.”
Once again at a 12-and-under youth football game grown-ass men are getting into fights.
To be fair, we don’t know what was said to Blount to provoke this incident. Was it justified? Tough to say. But violence is almost always not the right response.
What is still baffling in this scenario is how a youth football game leads adults to start acting the fool. It’s bad enough when this happens at the collegiate or professional levels. But kiddie football? What are we doing?
Blount had better hope he didn’t hurt anyone and there really aren’t any injuries to report. As a former professional player, someone could be looking for a payday. Plus Blount has a history of letting emotion get the better of him.
As a member of the Oregon Ducks football team in 2009, Blount knocked out Boise State defensive lineman Byron Hout. He was suspended from the team for a time before being reinstated.
That incident was one of the factors that led to Blount not being drafted in 2010.
Despite that, he did go on to have a pretty good NFL career. He played nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions.
Blount won Super Bowls with the Patriots (XLIX, LI) and Eagles (LII). He set Patriots franchise records for most rushing touchdowns in a season with 18 in 2016. Blount was the last running back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season for a Super Bowl winner (LI). For his career he totaled 6,306 rushing yards and 56 touchdowns.
Since his retirement from the game Blount started LG’s Feel Good, a company that sells pain and recovery products for athletes using CBD.
“I spent nine years in the NFL, running through guys. The past year and a half, I’ve been trying to help them out,” Blount said. “There are some guys who’ve had torn ACLs and other injuries and they swear by the products.”
LG’s Feel Good products include products is CBD/CBG Gummies, Organic CBD repair balm and Recovery Roller Gel.
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