FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- After beginning his career in Tampa Bay with a 1,000-yard season in 2010, LeGarrette Blount had a tough pill to swallow last season.

With a new coaching staff led by Greg Schiano in place, the Buccaneers drafted Doug Martin in the first round. The rookie phenom rushed for nearly 1,500 yards, relegating Blount to just nine percent of offensive snaps.

"It's a business. There's some things that you can't control," Blount said Tuesday. "You come upon a good back like Doug. He's an amazing running back. You can't really put into words how you're feeling, so I just kind of played my role and did what I had to do."

Blount was traded to the Patriots during April's draft, and hinted Tuesday that the trade was far from a surprise.

"I really don't pay too much attention to it. If it happened it happened, if it didn't it didn't," Blount said. "I'm here to play football. I love the game and this is what I want to do, whether it's here or anywhere else."

Blount called himself a "downhill, physical running back" with a "kind of old school" playing style, something that could complement other backfield pieces, Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen.

Running backs coach Ivan Fears was asked his view of what Blount might be able to contribute.

"It's kind of early. Guy just got here, he's learning the system," Fears responded. "Love him in the meetings, love being around him. We'll see what he does when it counts. That's when you're really going to love the guy. If he gets out there and makes things happen on the field, then we're really going to love him. If not, then we ain't going to love him so much. Let's wait and see. ... He's a good dude. He's really a good guy. We'll see what happens."

While his performance on the field will play a large part in determining his role in New England, Blount must also prove himself off the field. Suspensions marred his college career at Oregon, while the Tampa Bay Times reported last summer that there were questions about Blount's work ethic with the Buccaneers.

Having arrived in New England, Blount said Tuesday that he is aware of the team's expectations for him.

"You can tell from watching them on TV the expectations they have. You can tell that from the way they do things around the building, the expectations they have," Blount said. "I'm excited to be a part of something like this, so hopefully I find my way in so I can fit in wherever I'm supposed to be."

Those expectations are set by Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who is close friends and shares a similar coaching style with Schiano.

"I've liked Coach Belichick since I met him the first time. He's an amazing guy and he knows everything he's talking about. He's going to tell you exactly how it is, he's not going to sugarcoat anything," Blount said. "He's going to tell you exactly what he wants. He has high expectations for this team."