Ezekiel Elliot to Pats on 1 year up to $6 million deal

[BuffaloBillyG]

Reportedly worth "up to $6M". For me this is not bad news. Less carries for Stevenson. That dude is a monster.

 

 

[Big Turk]

Dude is mostly through...good deal for him tho.

 

 

 

Edited August 14, 2023 by Big Turk

[BuffBillsForLife]

Can't wait to see Zeke outplayed by his backup again.  Stevenson is a beast and Zeke is washed.

[BuffaloBillyG]

Just now, BuffBillsForLife said:

Can't wait to see Zeke outplayed by his backup again.  Stevenson is a beast and Zeke is washed.

Elliot still has some value on the field. If he's not the centerpiece and has reduced carries he can be productive. Still has a nose for the end zone. But yes, Stevenson is really good and should still be the focal point of their run game.

[HappyDays]

"Up to" leaves a lot of room for the real number, but anything over the vet minimum is an overpay IMO. This feels like a classic post-Brady Patriots move which looks stupid on paper and ultimately reveals itself to be stupid in reality.

[nucci]

Just now, BuffaloBillyG said:

Elliot still has some value on the field. If he's not the centerpiece and has reduced carries he can be productive. Still has a nose for the end zone. But yes, Stevenson is really good and should still be the focal point of their run game.

he will be

[Matt_In_NH]

I know he is a "big name" but he seems shot.....good for the Patriots.  THey have almst infinite money to spend if they want when you look at the next couple years and what they have on the books

[Shaw66]

Klein's snaps just went up. 

[PatsFanNH]

8 minutes ago, BuffBillsForLife said:

Can't wait to see Zeke outplayed by his backup again.  Stevenson is a beast and Zeke is washed.

IMO he be great for pass protection and catches out of the backfield.. I don’t see him running the ball much I am thinking third down RB..  and yes Stevensons is a beast but they needed someone else in there to take the Carrie’s down for him.

[NewEra]

9 minutes ago, BuffBillsForLife said:

Can't wait to see Zeke outplayed by his backup again.  Stevenson is a beast and Zeke is washed.

Zeke will be the backup

[0017]

Dalvin cook would have been a better fit, thank god he didn’t go there. 

[PatsFanNH]

2 hours ago, BuffBillsForLife said:

Can't wait to see Zeke outplayed by his backup again.  Stevenson is a beast and Zeke is washed.

Umm Zeke  IS the backup. Plain and simple. He is there to keep Stevenson fresh.

Edited August 14, 2023 by PatsFanNH

[K-9]

Another genius signing by Belichick. 

[ngbills]

Zeke is 28...not a good age for a RB with his workload. But dude has been at 2,000 rush/rec yards twice. That is a pretty good back up to have. 

[MRW]

2 minutes ago, PatsFanNH said:

Umm Zelenskyy IS the backup. Plain and simple. He is there to keep Stevenson fresh.

 

That is a fantastic autocorrect.

[BuffaloBillyG]

2 minutes ago, PatsFanNH said:

Umm Zelenskyy IS the backup. Plain and simple. He is there to keep Stevenson fresh.

Zeke is better at pass pro as well IMO. May see him in obvious pass sets and goal line a bit. But for the most part, agree. Stevenson is the guy.

[DCofNC]

The Pats are going to do what you have to do, go exactly the opposite of the rest of the league.  They will beat you down with the run game and limit the snaps of the opposing offense.  It’s brilliant to cover for their lack of talent.

[PetermansRedemption]

17 minutes ago, BuffBillsForLife said:

Can't wait to see Zeke outplayed by his backup again.  Stevenson is a beast and Zeke is washed.

Pretty sure Zeke will be the backup. If not, that’s good news for everyone else in the division because Stevenson is much better than Zeke. 

[Warcodered]

This has value for us in Shaq Lawson and Jordan Phillips' meme usage.

[WMDman]

OoOoh I'm sooo scared

[freddyjj]

8 minutes ago, ngbills said:

But dude has been at 2,000 rush/rec yards twice. That is a pretty good back up to have. 

In 2016 and 2018.  Ancient history in NFL years. 

[newcam2012]

9 minutes ago, PetermansRedemption said:

Pretty sure Zeke will be the backup. If not, that’s good news for everyone else in the division because Stevenson is much better than Zeke. 

He is still a very good back up. He can get the tough yards, convert short yardage runs for first downs, and score TDs in the red zone. 

 

It's a nice pick up for NE. Still they are behind the talent curve in the AFC East. However, they won't be an easy out either. 

[machine gun kelly]

31 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

Klein's snaps just went up. 

And Rapp for Taron.  That’s the counter for 12 personnel and 21 or even heavy 11 run teams.  Rapp’s a thumper.

 

As far as Zeke, he has a job so good for him.  I don’t know if he’s shot, but he’s not the featured back anymore.  He’s the complimentary guy.

[Aussie Joe]

Would rather have Harris at $1.7m

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

If he can stay healthy, Zeke can be dangerous 

[Irv]

I always thought he was good but overrated like the whole Dallas team.  

[Success]

Kind of head-scratching why they didn't keep a younger, better RB who would have cost less than half of what they're paying Zeke.

 

But thanks, New England.

 

[JohnBonhamRocks]

Corey Dillon to the Pats* this move is not.

[Punching Bag]

6 minutes ago, Irv said:

I always thought he was good but overrated like the whole Dallas team.  

 

His offense line in Dallass helped him out a lot with his performance.

[Fan in Chicago]

1 hour ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Reportedly worth "up to $6M". For me this is not bad news. Less carries for Stevenson. That dude is a monster.

 

 

Sometimes I think I was educated in a different language 

"Worth up to equals there are incentives in Ezekiel Elliott's deal with the Patriots." 

[billsfan89]

Zeke is a nice backup, solid pickup but not really moving the needle much. He last was a true "workhorse" RB1 in 2019. The last three seasons he has been pretty average. Pollard surpassed him in 2021 as the more efficient back. From my limited time watching the Cowboys last season it seemed like Zeke was still a decent back but just far from the elite player he once was. I think in NE he will have a decent run, he is just 28 and his workload the past 2-3 seasons has declined a bit so he isn't someone with a ton of wear and tear so to speak. 

 

TLDR: Not a bad move but not a dynamic needle mover either. 

[Success]

Fitting, since I sense the Patriots are going to look a lot like the post-90s dynasty Cowboys in the years ahead.

 

This isn't moving any needle for them.  4th place is waiting for you, New England.  

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, Matt_In_NH said:

I know he is a "big name" but he seems shot.....good for the Patriots.  THey have almst infinite money to spend if they want when you look at the next couple years and what they have on the books

 

This is a "fan" move.

[Roundybout]

This is very strong "TO to the Bills in 2009" vibes

[Rc2catch]

I don’t think Zeke offers much at this point, but I wouldn’t discount his blocking especially in the red zone. 
You know they’ll have some special redzone packages with this Cunningham kid, and Zeke might play a significant role for that. 

[LOVEMESOMEBILLS]

15 minutes ago, Roundybout said:

This is very strong "TO to the Bills in 2009" vibes

 

 Was just going to say it reminds me of the TO signing. Bigger name signing on a team destined to fail.

 

 

[HOUSE]

But no Quarterback,  have fun

[FireChans]

2 hours ago, DCofNC said:

The Pats are going to do what you have to do, go exactly the opposite of the rest of the league.  They will beat you down with the run game and limit the snaps of the opposing offense.  It’s brilliant to cover for their lack of talent.

Jauron Ball

[Captain Hindsight]

11 minutes ago, FireChans said:

Jauron Ball

In the hunt 

[GottaRun]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

This is a "fan" move.

Giving me Terrell Owens to the Bills vibes