Bill Belichick Speaks On Ezekiel Elliott Signing For The First Time

The New England Patriots waited until deep into the preseason to sign Ezekiel Elliott.

They brought in the former Dallas Cowboys star just before the start of their joint practice with the Green Bay Packers, and coach Bill Belichick seems to be excited about having him there — at least according to his standards.

The often tight-lipped head coach told the media that it was good to have Zeke on board and that he was looking forward to working with him (via NBC Sports Boston).

Bill Belichick shares his thoughts on adding Ezekiel Elliott to the Patriots roster ?#ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/EAM3IXVyVi

— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) August 16, 2023

He added that they had already got together to talk about some of the plays, protections, and terminology.

Then, in full Belichick fashion, when asked about Zeke’s fit and potential impact, he claimed that he doesn’t know how things will turn out because he’s never gotten to coach him before.

The 28-year-old has had a tough time gauging any sort of interest in the league, and some stated that he was out of shape and looked like he had lost a step.

Once a big star and the highest-paid running back in the league, and the No. 4 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Elliott’s production took a dip every single season since signing that big contract extension.

As of now, he has 11,056 yards from scrimmage and 82 touchdowns, but that doesn’t mean anything when you arrive in New England.

The Patriots are still expected to lean with Rhamondre Stevenson as the lead back after his solid season in 2022, and Elliott will have to prove that he’s still got it to get some touches.

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Dan Orlovsky Details Patriots’ Plan For The 2023 Season