Ezekiel Elliott has signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots that could earn him up to six million dollars. But the running back will have to do a lot in return.

Bill Belichick is known for being a hard-ass in contract negotiations. The New England Patriots coaching legend proved when he signed Ezekiel Elliott that talking money with him is no fun.

Let’s put it this way: the running back’s employment paper is a prime example of the phrase “performance-based”.

You could also say that the Patriots are taking a financially manageable risk while Elliott, in turn, is making compromises to rekindle his career after leaving the Dallas Cowboys after seven years.

For it was previously said that Elliott could earn “up to six million dollars” with the Patriots. That’s true, but the 28-year-old will have to do a lot to make it happen.

His signing bonus is $600,000, according to “ProFootballTalk”, and his base salary is $1.55 million. Which will be reduced to $1 million should he injure himself so badly before the first day of games that his season is over.

Premiums are hard work

$50,000 is available if he is in the squad on a match day. This would mean a maximum of another 850,000 dollars over the season. That makes a total of three million dollars.

In addition, bonuses were built into the contract, which are staggered. On the one hand, there is money for a certain number of scrimmage yards. 300,000 dollars are due for 975 yards, another 300,000 dollars for 1,100, 1,225, 1,350 and 1,475 scrimmage yards. If he reaches that mark, he would be up to $1.5 million.

Same play on offensive snaps. The ex-Cowboy collects $300,000 if he’s on the field for 50 percent of the plays. On 55, 60, 65 and 70 per cent of the snaps, there’s another $300,000 each, so again a maximum of $1.5 million is possible.

In a nutshell, six million dollars is available if Elliott plays in every game, rips off 1,475 scrimmage yards and completes at least 70 percent of the snaps. The snaps, in particular, should be a challenge.

Belichick looking forward to Elliott

“It’s good to have Zeke,” Belichick said after the deal became official. “I’m looking forward to working with him. We’ll put him in when he’s ready and see how it