New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
(PHOTO: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports) After doing a little bit of digging for something yesterday, there was an interesting story that I hadn’t heard, which involved running back Ezekiel Elliot.
Elliott, who ended up being a key addition for New England’s offense in 2023, especially after they lost Rhamondre Stevenson late in the year, apparently had an interest in reuniting with his former team ahead of their Wild Card meeting against Green Bay last month.
According to FoxSports, Elliott, having signed a one-year deal with the club last offseason – and with New England’s 4-13 season already in the rearview – apparently asked to be released so that he could sign with the Cowboys and contribute to their playoff run.
In the report, FoxSports said that Bill Belichick apparently denied Elliott’s request, although the veteran back was still in Dallas for the game, he was just watching from a luxury box owned by Dak Prescott.
New England played its final game on Sunday January 7th (a 17-3 home loss to the New York Jets), which means Elliott’s request had to have come either that Sunday night or that ensuing Monday or Tuesday morning, which would have provided him time to get signed and be in Dallas ahead of the team’s preparation that Wednesday.
Instead, Belichick apparently didn’t grant his wish, with Robert Kraft and Belichick also parting ways days later on January 11th. The Cowboys ultimately lost to the Packers 48-32 in a game that was never as close as the final score indicated.
How much of a difference Elliott could have made remains to be seen, but if the above is true, it certainly would have been an interesting development.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The above appeared in a recent notebook column here.)
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