Patriots trade Jeff Demps to Buccaneers for LeGarrette Blount

Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a run at Jeff Demps last year after the London Olympics but had jumped in too late because he already had made a commitment to the New England Patriots.

Saturday, the Bucs got Demps in a swap of running backs, sending LeGarrette Blount to Foxborough in exchange for Demps and a seventh-round draft pick.

Demps still plans to run track and play football, his agent Daniel Rose told USA TODAY Sports. The Patriots wanted a full commitment from Demps and didn't get one. It wasn't immediately clear whether Tampa Bay would allow him to split time between the sports.

Blount became expendable last year after first-round pick Doug Martin had a huge rookie season, rushing for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The Bucs re-signed Blount last month to retain him as a restricted free agent. His $1.25 million salary becomes the property of the Patriots, who continue to roll over running backs. It's another Bill Belichick-Greg Schiano dealing, following last season's trade of Aqib Talib from Tampa Bay to New England. Belichick also drafted two former Schiano players this week in safety Duron Harmon and cornerback Logan Ryan.