NFL Rumors: Patriots could cut Danny Amendola after season?
By Bryan Rose
When the New England Patriots signed Danny Amendola, the hope was that he’d fill the vacated spot left by Wes Welker. However, the oft-injured Amendola has lived up to his reputation and while he has produced at a solid clip when on the field, it hasn’t been overly impressive.
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Given all those factors, it’s the belief of the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin that Amendola could be playing his final season with the Patriots barring an overly impressive season.
“If he doesn’t produce big numbers — think at least 80 catches, 800-plus yards, and a clean bill of health — then Amendola is all but gone after 2014, when he doesn’t have as much dead money left on a contract that runs through 2017.”
Catching 80 balls and putting up 800+ yards isn’t completely out of the realm of possibility given New England’s wide receiver corps and the elite arm under center in Tom Brady, though, that’s likely going to require the veteran to remain healthy for the entire year. That has proven to be an issue before.
Volin even goes on to suggest that if it weren’t for Amendola’s hefty contract, it’s very possible he may have been cut this offseason though another sub-par year and he’s all but gone.
As for Amendola himself, he is doing what he can to distance himself from last season’s debacle, recently suggesting that he doesn’t even think about it and is simply moving forward.
He’ll have his opportunity to make everybody – both fans and front office – forget about it if he produces. But if not? Well, his future with the Patriots will be put into serious question.