LeGarrette Blount suspended for first game of 2015 season

The New England Patriots' title defense will begin without one of the key late-season acquisitions that helped make that Super Bowl championship happen.

Running back LeGarrette Blount has been suspended for the first game of the 2015 season, according to numerous reports. Many of those reports, including Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, said the suspension stems from an arrest last year in Pittsburgh, which means Steelers star running back Le'Veon Bell might also be in for some punishment.

Before Blount threw a tantrum over a lack of playing time and got himself cut from the Steelers, he was arrested along with Bell last August for possession of marijuana. Bell got the more serious charge, because he was the driver when the car was pulled over. He was charged with a DUI. According to the Associated Press, in February he was sentenced to 15 months probation in the case. Presumably Bell will face a suspension too and it could be more than the game Blount got. Bell's attorney told the AP in February that Bell faced up to a two-game suspension after he was given the probation in his case.

For Blount, it's not the best way to start a new season but it's not like the Patriots didn't know about his arrest. He was a key figure in the Patriots' offense after they picked him up following his release, rushing for 281 yards and three touchdowns in five regular-season games, and he had 148 yards and three touchdowns in New England's AFC championship game win over the Indianapolis Colts.

So we know the Patriots will be without a key part of their running game to start this season. We'll wait to see if Pittsburgh will as well.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab