AP

Jeff Demps and LeGarrette Blount are making like Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd and trading places.

The Patriots have traded Demps, the former Olympic sprinter and University of Florida running back and return man, to the Buccaneers for Blount, the running back who was outstanding as a rookie but was phased out of the offense in Tampa last season.

The Patriots also sent a seventh-round draft pick to the Buccaneers to complete the deal.

Both Demps and Blount had been the subject of a great deal of trade talk in the last couple of months. Demps announced that he wants to focus on track in the offseason and only return to football in the fall, which didn’t go over well in New England. Blount has never fit in well with Greg Schiano in Tampa. So the deal doesn’t come as a big surprise.

Blount had 201 carries for 1,007 yards as an undrafted rookie in 2010. Demps was a good running back and return man at Florida. If both players are focused and committed, it’s a deal that could work out well for both teams.