LeGarrette Blount Files Trademark for "Blount Force Trauma"

Every so often, there's a phrase that is just linked to a player.

"Child, please," scoffed Chad Johnson né Ochocinco né Johnson.

"Get your popcorn ready," advised Terrell Owens.

And then there are words used to describe players that are unmistakable. Air Jordan. Air Wilfork. TB12. Revis Island.

It looks like the Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount received advise from BenJarvus Green-Ellis, the law firm, as he recently registered a trademark:

Got @LG_Blount's #BlountForceTrauma trademark just in time for today's big game! pic.twitter.com/dci96vtbeO

— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) January 10, 2015

I spoke with Darren Heitner, owner of Heitner Legal, a firm that specializes in intellectual property, about the trademark. Heitner is an advocate for athletes and an expert in the realm of Sports Law.

"Blount has a store on Athlete Originals, which is a client of Heitner Legal," Heitner stated via e-mail. "My law firm was approached to file the trademark application for "Blount Force Trauma" in connection with the apparel sold on Blount's store through Athlete Originals."

According to Heitner, the trademark will protect Blount and his product.

"[The trademark will] protect against others illegally using it for their own financial gain," Heitner explained. "It also gives him the ability to license it to others and earn royalties from the sale of goods and products, if he so chooses."

All of this makes plenty of sense, but it's surprising how few athletes understand, or are advised, how to protect themselves.

"Not enough athletes understand intellectual property issues nor are properly guided by their advisors," Heitner continued. "Heitner Legal has had the unique opportunity of working with many athletes on the protection of their valuable intellectual property, but not any athletes currently on the Patriots' roster."

So Boston D Party. Tymsanity. Incredelman. Reach out to your agents and see what can be done to protect your image!

As for Bill Belichick, can he trademark "MyFace," or "Instabook," or "Tweetmagram"? Or what about "On to Cincinnati"?

"Anything is possible," Heitner noted. "It depends on how Belichick would use the phrase in commerce and whether it appropriately will identify the source (Belichick) from others who may try to use the phrase. As an example, Heitner Legal recently filed trademark applications for basketball announcer Bill Raftery for the marks 'Onions' and 'With A Kiss.'"

Maybe we'll see Gillette Stadium selling "On to Cincinnati Chili" or "On to ____" t-shirts. That's when we'll know that Belichick is reading.

You can find all of Blount's designs at his website. Thanks Darren for the insight!