Steelers release LeGarrette Blount

The Pittsburgh Steelers releases running back LeGarrette Blount on Tuesday. The move comes less than 24 hours after Blount left the field before the Steelers game against the Tennessee Titans had ended.

According to ESPN, Steelers defensive assistant Joey Porter saw Blount leave the game early for the team bus. He called Blount back to the locker room several times. Blount did come back, but he left before the postgame interviews had started.

"We believe the decision to release LeGarrette is in the best interest of the organization and wish him the best of luck," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement released by the Steelers.

Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey told reporters, "If you don't want to be here, don't be here. He had a decision to make as a man, and he made it. You know the consequences."

Safety Mike Mitchell said, "I actually know him, and a lot of people don't know him. He is not a selfish guy at all. He is a competitive guy who wants to be on the field, wants to win games, wants to help us win games. It's a bad perception I think he gets a lot of times, but he has to be smarter in that situation."

Blount signed a two-year, $3.85 million contract with the Steelers in March. He played just one play in Monday night’s game while his friend Le’Von Bell rushed for a career-high 204 yards and a touchdown. This season Blount rushed for 266 yards and had two scores, according to the Associated Press.

The Steeler have promoted Josh Harris from the practice squad to replace Blount. Blount’s signing bonus was the only thing that he was guaranteed. He will count for $475,000 against the Steelers salary cap next year.

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