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Early in the offseason, the Patriots took Jonas Gray off the Ravens practice squad. For the next 10 months Gray lived anonymously, being brought up from their practice squad after Stevan Ridley suffered a season-ending injury.
Then Sunday Night Football happened, and Gray pretty much did to the Colts what LeGarrette Blount did to them 10 months ago. Some fans were upset by Gray's success, considering that the Ravens had the opportunity to sign him to a Reserve-Futures contract in the offseason.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh knew Gray had talent but weren't able to keep him at the time based on personnel. That's how it goes sometimes in this league.
"We were disappointed to lose Jonas last year when we lost him," Harbaugh told reporters on Monday. "We really thought he had a lot of upside. He felt like that was an opportunity that he wanted to pursue, and obviously, it's paid off for him. So, I wish him nothing but the best."
However, it's not worth getting riled up.
Running backs are a dime-a-dozen in the NFL, unless it's some once in a generation back.
I'm sure that in Jacksonville, they're looking at Justin Forsett and going, "Ugh, I wish we didn't cut him!"
But frankly it's not worth it in either case, just like it wasn't worth getting upset over Bobby Rainey last year. Gray benefited from the Patriots game-planning to run the ball (they operated in a six-linemen set 37% of the time), and the Colts' inability to stop them from doing so. Gray might be like Blount and just vanish away.
Even if he doesn't, and he goes on to be a successful back in the Patriots' offense, let's not pretend that the Ravens need Jonas Gray. Forsett is one of the best running backs in the NFL right now. Lorenzo Taliaferro looks promising, and the 2015 draft is full of talented running backs.