The Facts: ESPN.com's Mike Reiss writes, "If I'm Blount, and the ultimate goal is to return to New England, I'd be careful of waiting too long to re-sign because the door might soon be closed entirely. The Patriots would like Blount back, but I don't sense that they feel they need him back."

Diehards Line: Reiss went on to explain, when it comes to long-term roster planning, the Patriots often adopt the approach that if a contract extension at rates they are comfortable paying isn’t looking like a reality, they decisively move on to the next option. Their aggressive pursuit of cornerback Stephon Gilmore as it relates to Malcolm Butler is one recent example of this. This is also the dynamic of what Reiss sees unfolding with Blount, who remains unsigned. The Patriots have recently taken a closer look at other options, such as Adrian Peterson (Vikings), Mike Gillislee (Bills) and Damien Williams (Dolphins). This year’s running back class in the draft is also considered strong, so the Patriots will have options. ... Stay tuned.