The Facts: In a contract year, Blount resurrected his career. It was the type of year, coupled with a few dominant performances, that could boost a player’s value in free agency, though Blount hasn’t met with Bill Belichick to talk numbers. “We’ll see,” Blount said. “I’d like to be here, but we’ll see how it goes.”

Diehards Line: After rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 27-year-old became a force for the Patriots down the stretch. Blount finished with 772 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, highlighted by a 189-yard performance against Buffalo in Week 17. Before getting stymied in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game loss to Denver, where he rushed for only 6 yards, Blount set a franchise playoff record for rushing touchdowns (four) and tied the record for rushing yards (166) against Indianapolis. It’ll be a big offseason for the free agent, but after tasting the postseason for the first time, Blount said that’s what will motivate him going forward. “It means a lot,” he said. “It makes you a lot more hungry, you know, for what’s next and how much further you can get in this postseason.”