LeGarrette Blount got a surprise Saturday morning when he entered the Eagles' locker room.
He got his number back.
From the time Blount was signed in mid-May, the veteran running back has worn No. 35 on his jersey. Now, he's back to the No. 29, which he wore in New England.
"Oh yeah man, I'm excited about it," he said. "I'm just happy that I got it back. I'm happy that things worked out for the best. I don't know how it happened. I just know I came in here and I had 29."
Blount said he didn't know why the number switched today and he didn't have to make any kind of deal with Terrence Brooks, who had worn 29 until Saturday.
Perhaps the acquisition of cornerback Ronald Darby spurred the action. While Brooks now wears 24, Darby took Blount's old No. 35.
Blount said an equipment man took his shoulder pads and brought them back to him with the 29 jersey attached.
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"I know he loves to have that number," Brooks said. "To me, it doesn't matter what number I have. That's something special to him. That's never been a number I've worn in the past, so it really doesn't matter to me. Twenty-four looks good. I'll rock it and do what I can with it."
One thing is for sure. Blount wasn't feeling 35.
"Nah," he said smiling. "Nah, I wasn't going to keep that."
Blount has worn a different number in the past. During his time with Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, he wore 27, but that number is owned in Philly by defensive leader Malcolm Jenkins and he likely wasn't going to give it up.
There's nothing superstitious about the No. 29 for Blount. He just likes it.
"I've had it for a long time," he said. "I just enjoy having it. I had it with New England. I just like the number. I just like the number, that's all."