FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — A right cross to an opponent’s chin. An arrest on a marijuana possession charge. A decision to walk out on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

And now, for LeGarrette Blount, a spot in the Super Bowl in a revived career.

“It’s had its ups and downs,” the hard-hitting running back for the New England Patriots said. “I’ve had good times and bad and I’ve embraced them all. So I’m enjoying every second of this.”

Blount returned to practice Thursday for the NFL championship game against the defending champion Seattle Seahawks in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 1.

He helped the Patriots get there by rushing for 148 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries in a 45-7 rout of the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday night.

A feeling of redemption, perhaps?

“No,” Blount said, “it was the feeling of winning the AFC championship.”

In the regular season, he rushed for 266 yards in 11 games with the Steelers and 281 in five games with the Patriots.

“I’m in a better scenario than I could possibly be in right now,” Blount said.