Belichick told he "has lost his mind" after signing Elliott with more pain ahead
The New England Patriots have been told they are in for a "world of hurt" in the upcoming NFL season after being blasted for signing former Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott.
Elliott, 28, has been one of the NFL's best rushers since he was drafted in 2016, but his powers have shown significant signs of fading over the past couple of seasons and he was cut loose by the Cowboys at the end of the 2022 campaign.
Months went by before the former All-Pro running back found a new home, and after visiting Bill Belichick and the Pats on July 29, he has agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $6 million (£4.7m), providing more depth to a backfield that will be led by impressive third-year prospect Rhamondre Stevenson.
But FOX Sports pundit Jason McIntyre believes it is a move born out of desperation after falling down the pecking order in the AFC East, with many analysts predicting the Pats will finish at the bottom of the division.
"Bill Belichick has lost his damn mind," McIntyre said on his "Straight Fire " podcast. "He is grasping at straws. He went out a couple of years back, and was like 'I'm getting Cam, I'm gonna resurrect Cam Newton'.
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"It did not quite work out. A year later, they draft Mac Jones, sayonara Cam Newton. Now they're just taking a flier on Zeke Elliott.
"If you're taking Zeke Elliott here to be your backup running back on the cheap and you overpaid JuJu Smith-Schuster and you grabbed Mike Gesicki, who could not block me coming off the edge, the New England Patriots are in a world of hurt offensively.
Ezekiel Elliott hopes to return to form with the Pats after struggling to make big plays for the Cowboys in recent times. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)"This is definitely, unequivocally, the worst team in the AFC East and there is a world where this is a six-or-seven-win team, max, in a stacked AFC."
A disappointing 8-9 season for the Pats in 2022 was underpinned by a series of woes on offense, particularly a worrying regression for second-year quarterback Mac Jones. After an impressive rookie year, the former Alabama signal caller struggled for efficiency as the Pats' offense ground to a halt time and again.
A significant improvement from Jones is required for the Patriots to contend for a playoff spot in 2023, and he has been aided by the return of Bill O'Brien to the organisation to run the offense.
Elliott has joined wide receiver Smith-Schuster and tight end Gesicki – who suffered an injury scare on Monday – as headline additions to strengthen the sporting cast.
But the team fell short in its pursuit of three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who instead signed with the Tennessee Titans after being cut loose by the Arizona Cardinals.
There are serious questions, therefore, about whether the Patriots have done enough to close the gap to the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins or New York Jets as they vie to become a relevant contender again.
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