19 July 2023 , 21:48
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NFL running back Leonard Fournette is reportedly nearing a potential return with a new team.
Fournette was recently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he spent three seasons all of which with Tom Brady as his teammate. Fournette helped with the Super Bowl in 2021 alongside the legendary quarterback.
Brady retired from the NFL in February this year, calling time on a two-decade long career in the sport. During his illustrious career, Brady won seven Super Bowl rings, including six with the New England Patriots, along with his one for the Bucs.
Fournette was originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018 with the No.4 overall pick. The running back spent three seasons with the franchise before moving 200 miles south to go to Tampa in 2020.
It was confirmed on March 17 that the Bucs had released Fournette as a free agent. The 28-year-old has been left searching for a new team ever since, and it seems that he may be moving one step closer to making that a reality.
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According to NFL.com, Fournette underwent a workout with Brady’s other former team, the Patriots, on Wednesday (July 19). It remains to be seen if the AFC East franchise will go any further than just taking a look at Fournette.
The Patriots are due to return for training camp on July 25, where the pre-season preparations will begin to ramp up. Bill Belichick’s team have pre-season friendlies against the Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers and the Tennessee Titans in a busy August schedule.
If Fournette gets included as part of that training camp, then it could mean that the franchise is looking into the possibility of signing the seventh-year running back. However, a lot will depend on what the Patriots will want to do in terms of shaping their roster ahead of the 2023 NFL regular season.
Tom Brady and Leonard Fournette were teammates for three seasons at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)The Patriots don’t have a large amount of NFL experience in the running back position in their roster. Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong Jr. are going into their second season in the league after being drafted in April 2022.
Rhamondre Stevenson has been in the NFL for two seasons after being drafted in 2021. Meanwhile, JJ Taylor is getting ready for his fourth season with the Patriots, although he has only played 12 games in total so far.
The running back position, while reasonably well-stocked, does not have any players who have been in the league for more than three seasons. Fournette, with his six years in the NFL and a Super Bowl ring, would be a valuable member of the Patriots roster if the organisation decided to get a deal done.
Before it was officially confirmed that Fournette had been released by the Bucs, he revealed that he had asked to leave the franchise. The running back namechecked Brady’s retirement as a factor in his decision to be released.
“I asked after the season to be (released), and they respected my wishes,” Fournette told the on February 28. “So no bad blood.”
“Winning is everything,” Fournette said. “That’s all. And in my last three years here, that’s all we’ve done. But since my guy (Brady) left, that’s why I came, so my time here was up.”