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Mike Reiss, ESPN Employees Author
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Veteran working again Ezekiel Elliott saved flashing smiles throughout his introductory information convention with New England Patriots reporters. At one level, he winked.
It displays how Elliott, after spending the primary seven years of his NFL profession with the Dallas Cowboys, has rapidly felt at residence as a Patriot.
“I believe if you happen to take a look at my play type and the tradition of this staff, it is a good match. I believe I am a very good match,” he stated Wednesday.
“I used to be at residence for a very long time, so I believed I undoubtedly ought to are available and be form of an energizer increase. The transition has been good. I have been getting together with the staff. Love the coaches, love the ambiance and love this program. Simply having enjoyable.”
As for the thought of proving doubters mistaken, he stated: “I do not suppose any outdoors entity may put extra strain on me than any strain I’ve for myself. So, it is probably not to exit and show something to anybody however simply go on the market and present what sort of participant I’m.”
The Patriots formally introduced Elliott’s signing on Aug. 16, and as a part of coach Invoice Belichick’s choice to restrict hype, Elliott wasn’t made accessible to talk with reporters till seven days later.
The 28-year-old participant referred to Belichick as a “nice coach” and “humorous man” Wednesday, including that he “calls for excellence of his staff and is aware of the best way to get it out of it.”
Belichick has steadily elevated Elliott’s workload over the previous week, and, in Wednesday’s full-pads apply, Elliott’s presence on the aim line was notable when he confirmed spectacular imaginative and prescient and decisiveness to chop again between the precise guard and proper deal with for a would-be landing.
Elliott has been taking snaps behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson, with whom he shares the identical agent. The 2 met in 2021 after a Patriots-Cowboys sport and have remained shut.
“He is a again that has an analogous working type as me, so I believe we’ll have the ability to complement one another very properly,” Elliott stated.
Teammates have famous Elliott’s transition over the previous week, which started when he traveled with the membership to Inexperienced Bay final week for practices with the Packers.
“He appears to be like good. You’ll be able to inform he is a man that is hungry, and motivated, and needs to show he is nonetheless Zeke,” veteran security Adrian Phillips stated. “I believe he’s, and it has been enjoyable to have him.
“He needs to return in and study what the tradition is right here. He hasn’t tried to step on anybody’s toes — the very first thing he did was are available and say, ‘What’s up?’ to all people’ — and needs to get to know all people. He is a cool man.”
Elliott may see his first motion as a Patriot in Friday’s preseason finale on the street in opposition to the Tennessee Titans. He stated he stayed in good bodily situation over the offseason.
“I used to be at residence, however I used to be undoubtedly working my tail off,” he stated. “I believe I did in the future of conditioning after I signed, and so they threw me proper in there. I really feel good. I really feel like I am able to play.”