Ezekiel Elliott shares how he feels about his new coach Bill Belichick

• NFL

Ezekiel Elliott described coach Bill Belichick as "a funny guy" and added the New England Patriots coach is definitely someone who knows how to "get excellence out of you." After being cut by the Dallas Cowboys in March, 28-year-old Elliott signed with the Patriots in mid-August.

Elliott, who is preparing for his eighth season in the NFL, is set to play outside Dallas for the first time in his NFL career. "He's a great coach. He's a funny guy. He demands excellence of this team, and he knows how to get it out of you," Elliott said, via CLNS.

Elliott hopes he can do well with the Patriots

In his short time with the Patriots, Elliott says he understands the team wants to run the ball in 2023. In New England, Elliott and Rhamondre Stevenson are the two running backs that are expected to get the most touches this coming season.

"The importance of the backs in the offense. This is definitely a team that wants to run the ball, wants to be balanced. It's been great working with Rhamondre. He's a back that has a similar running style as me, so I think we will be able to complement each other really well," Elliott told the Patriots website.

Although Elliott was without a team for five months, he insists he never stopped working hard. "I was at home, but I was definitely working my tail off. I did one day of conditioning after I signed, and they put me right in there.

I feel good. I feel like I'm ready to play. I've been here what, a week to eight days, so I'm still getting in that playbook trying to know it the way I should, but I'm getting there," Elliott said. It remains to be seen if Elliott can post good numbers in 2023 and potentially earn himself a long-term deal in New England.