Player Signing Patriots sign Ezekiel Elliott to a 1 year deal

[Patsfan1958]

 

[Schmo]

We signed Dillon when he had 1880 carries for 8000 yards on his career, had around 500 yards the previous year, and was 30 years old. Zeke has almost the exact same amount of carries for 8200 yards, is 28, and had almost 900 yards last season.

Comparing the two isn't ridiculous, and I think this is a very underrated signing.

 

[PatsFan2]

Good signing I hope Strong or Harris shows something wasn't impressed the other night.

 

[patfanken]

I was high on Cook when I thought it might take 9 or 10 million to sign him. Heard the news on both while at the poker table and I wasn't exactly pleased. There WERE some who felt Cook was also slowing down, but I always had seen him as an explosive player BOTH in the run and passing game, and even if he WAS slowing down I was thinking he'd be more of an explosive player than DHop.

The Pats haven't had a real "3rd down back" since James White went down and I thought the lack of one was a very underrated factor in last year's debalical on offense. So Cook ticked all the boxes for me, and Elliot wasn't nearly as interesting, mostly because I knew he's had a VERY heavy workload in his 7 years with Dallas.

BUT on the drive home, I've had a chance to think on it more and I have to say I'm warming up to the deal more for the following reasons.

1. The contract: Correct me if I'm wrong, but essentially, Elliots deal is for $4MM in guarantees and likely to be made incentives, plus another 2 million in not likely be made incentives, so an immediate $4MM cap hit, with another $2MM hit POSSIBLE after the season. Cooks deal, IIRC was $7MM with a million in a half in additional incentives.

2. If you look back at the history of Patriots #1 RB's over the years, the great majority of them were big tough backs who more often than not, averaged LESS than 4yp. BUT they could almost always be relied on to get that 3rd and short and 4th short. They would RARELY ever actually lose yardage and almost every time they carried the ball they got some kind of positive yardage even if was only 2 or 3 yds.

3. He's an elite pass protector among RB's. It's easy to underestimate this part of his game, but we shouldn't.

4. He's had over 300 catches. He's NOT a guy who locks you into running the ball when he's in there

5. 12 TD's in his worst year as a pro. That should be music to our last place redzone team ears.

6. One can make the case that Rham kind of ran out of gas toward the end of the year. The Eliot signing should make it possible that BOTH will be a lot fresher for the end of the year run.

About the only people who should be pissed at this signing are the owners of Rham in their FF leagues who will likely lose 5 or 6 TDs because of the Eliot signing.

 

[Brewskies]

They signed two running back since the first preseason game. It is good to see O'Brien and Belichick agree that the Offense needs more than Stevenson doing his thing for 17 games straight, if they are going to have a season better than 6-11, 7-10, or 8-9. Let's also hope that with the signing of the additional OT, the tackle mess might improve.

Go Pats

 

[PScottman]

Jackson was 32 when pats signed him, elliott is 28. Huge difference

Age is less of a determinant factor in my comment than production drop. As stated, no issue with the signing at all, but my expectations are also not high for getting "Peak Zeke".

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

I think he should do this when he plays here…

 

[Steve102]

He can still be effective to spell Rham.

R-H-A-M. You've got it right.

 

[Zuma]

 

[jdlboot14]

Does this spell the end of the year for Ty Montgomery?
So, it seems like our "3rd Down" back role will be a mix of Strong & Douglas?

 

[Triumph]

Elliot just turned 28 and has only been in the league 7 years.

Approximately 900 rushing yards and 12 TDs in 2022.

3 seasons with 6 fumbles.

Ezekiel Elliott Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats for Ezekiel Elliott. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[RobertWeathers]

Does this spell the end of the year for Ty Montgomery?

Seeing how Bill just gave McMillan an extension he'll prob be back next year.

So, it seems like our "3rd Down" back role will be a mix of Strong & Douglas?

I think the 3rd down back duties will be a mix of Rham and Zeke as both can catch the ball and pass block.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Elliot just turned 28 and has only been in the league 7 years.

Approximately 900 rushing yards and 12 TDs in 2022.

3 seasons with 6 fumbles.

Ezekiel Elliott Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats for Ezekiel Elliott. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

105 games. 5200 snaps. 2100 touches. Over 10,500 yards.

Hes only 28 but there are a lot of miles on that car.

 

[Triumph]

105 games. 5200 snaps. 2100 touches. Over 10,500 yards.

Hes only 28 but there are a lot of miles on that car.

Yeah but last season was # 1 RB worthy.

 

[borisman]

Good signing I hope Strong or Harris shows something wasn't impressed the other night.

Could have had something to do with defenders being in the backfield the entire night.

 

[Zuma]

 

[captain stone]

Does this spell the end of the year for Ty Montgomery?
So, it seems like our "3rd Down" back role will be a mix of Strong & Douglas?

and Elliot.

 

[captain stone]

Could have had something to do with defenders being in the backfield the entire night.

They were; but Strong & Harris didn't do themselves any favors that night either.

 

[borisman]

They were; but Strong & Harris didn't do themselves any favors that night either.

4 first downs or so before Cunningham came in doesn't necessarily reflect poorly on the RB's. They didn't perform well but it was game one with not a single (maybe one) starting OL playing.

Add: I'm not sure what some people realistically expected out of 4th and 6th round backs who combined for 28 carries the previous season. Improvement? Yes.
Is it fait accompli? No.

 

[Grogan14]

Age is less of a determinant factor in my comment than production drop. As stated, no issue with the signing at all, but my expectations are also not high for getting "Peak Zeke".

Yes agree. He is not peak Zeke but some of his remaining skills are a great fit for this team.