Zeke & Dalvin ‘Secret Plan’ to Sign with Patriots?

ARLINGTON, Texas - A former Bill Belichick aide had uncorked a rumor that has conspiratorial tones ... and except for the source, there isn't much reason to allow it some elbow room.

But former New England Patriots exec Michael Lombardi is the source ... and Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook are the subjects ... and according to Lombardi, Cook and Elliott have already make arrangements to sign with their next teams.

Realy?! Lombardi was asked about Elliott and Dalvin Cook on "The Pat McAfee Show" and he predicted they will sign later this month. … and he offered some shadowy reasoning.

"I think Dalvin and Zeke are gonna sign with two weeks to go (before the season starts),”  Lombardi said. "I think both know where they're gonna go. I think both don't want to play yet until camp gets over."

The concept is intriguing. The Patriots - the only team Elliott has visited - are mentioned here in regard to Zeke. From where would Lombardi garner this intel? Dot-connecting suggests a Zeke tie with New England.

Yes, the Dallas Cowboys, who cut Elliott in a salary cap move this offseason, are often mentioned as a candidate to re-sign him, but sources here in Dallas tell us that is and never has been the plan.

So Dalvin has a done-deal destination … but nobody knows about it except Lombardi? Hmmm. And Zeke, coincidentally, has the exact same sneaky secret? Hmmm.

This is all very intriguing, but … what’s the reason for knowing but waiting? Because Zeke and Dalvin “don’t want to play” preseason games? Really? The Patriots or the Jets or the Bills or the Dolphins or the Cowboys would demand that Cook/Elliott play in exhibition outings? Of course they wouldn’t.

Additionally, if, say, Elliott already “knows” he’s got a deal with the Patriots, that means Belichick (obviously) also knows. So Bill has a happy handshake agreement with Elliott to show up whenever he damn pleases? Logic suggests he doesn’t.

The reality (while the Patriots just signed a USFL back) is that if, say, Elliott and New England have a deal, there’s no need for secretiveness and no need for chicanery. They’d simply sign the agreement, announce it, and put Zeke on PUP for the month while getting him ready for Week 1 in September.

The Patriots, based on their first preseason game, may need help in the running backs room. But what they don't need to do is be "sneaky'' about it.