Belichick relies on a familiar playbook by inking Elliott

When Bill Belichick was beginning his 5^th campaign as the Patriots’ manager in 2004, he saw something that no one else in the league saw during that time and added RB Corey Dillon in a trade.

Let’s eat, Zeke 🥣@EzekielElliott | #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/MEx6wHieqH

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 16, 2023

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The running back, who played the 1^st 7 seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, was closing on his 30^th birthday that campaign, and the fans and experts wondered if he could be useful. Few franchises in the National Football League besides New England and Raiders saw great value in exchange for him.

Still, Bill used a 2^nd round selection for Dillon, and in return, the running back totaled 345 carries for 1,635 yards and 12 TDs in his debut Patriots campaign. He was crucial for the organization’s triumph with the XXXIX Super Bowl, and his 1,635 rushing yards remain a campaign organization’s record.

Almost 20 years later, Belichick expects the same thing: New England signed a 1-year deal with RB Ezekiel Elliott on Monday.