Amendola

[50-yard-line]

Honestly, I think he was only open because LaFell (x3) and Dobson picked off his man, 2 of the 4 calls were legit as the DB was leveled, the other 2 could have went either way, but they cannot be calculated into his performance, because penalties are part of the game and impact every player.

I think Amendola is a luxury for this team right now, nothing more, you see the team moving towards the 2 TE more and more, focusing on LaFell on the outside, as Brady gets older having bigger targets benefits him because the catch radius is so much bigger. I even see them moving the game plan away from Edelman, so given Edelman is cheaper, younger, and more productive he will likely be the only player in that role next season with Boyce as the backup.

Again, half agree. The picks might have allowed for more yards, but they were away from Amendola...he could have caught the balls anyway.

I agree with you, though. The Pats have a luxury and a safety valve in Amendola. Strongly doubt he's here next year.

Then again, I said the same thing about Arrington. The coaches will cut/restructure/keep going based on a lot more information than we have.

For the record, I think Amendola will have a couple of crucial performances down the stretch.

 

[RayClay]

Saying it here. Amendola, twenty catches, four touchdowns, inserted as a pass rush specialist and straightens out the salary cap issues on his lap top at half time!

 

[mgteich]

I think Amendola is a luxury for this team right now, nothing more, you see the team moving towards the 2 TE more and more, focusing on LaFell on the outside, as Brady gets older having bigger targets benefits him because the catch radius is so much bigger. I even see them moving the game plan away from Edelman, so given Edelman is cheaper, younger, and more productive he will likely be the only player in that role next season with Boyce as the backup.

Yes, Josh likes the 2 TE set. He even likes sets with 2 WR and 2 RB's. However, there the 3 WR will always be an important part of the patriots. Even if we only run 3 WR's 1/4 of the time, the #3 WR is more than a luxury.

 

[Brady6]

Yes, Josh likes the 2 TE set. He even likes sets with 2 WR and 2 RB's. However, there the 3 WR will always be an important part of the patriots. Even if we only run 3 WR's 1/4 of the time, the #3 WR is more than a luxury.

Amendola isn't the ideal #3 WR in my opinion. When he enters the game it moves Edelman to SE, which is not ideal for his skill set. In an ideal scenario Dobson would get his act together and that would give us 2 big WR on the outside and Edelman in the slot. Right now a lot of what Amendola does is redundant to the routes that Edelman and Vereen are running.

 

[Brady6]

Again, half agree. The picks might have allowed for more yards, but they were away from Amendola...he could have caught the balls anyway.

I agree with you, though. The Pats have a luxury and a safety valve in Amendola. Strongly doubt he's here next year.

Then again, I said the same thing about Arrington. The coaches will cut/restructure/keep going based on a lot more information than we have.

For the record, I think Amendola will have a couple of crucial performances down the stretch.

Arrington is a ghost in recent weeks so I would be surprised if he is here as well next season, at least on his current contract that is. I like Arrington as a depth CB and ST player but not at $4M APY. I actually feel the same way about Amendola, I like him as a depth WR and KR/PR just not at $5.7M APY. Much of it will depend on how much these players like being in New England and what type of pay cut they would accept to remain.

 

[mgteich]

Arrington is a ghost in recent weeks so I would be surprised if he is here as well next season, at least on his current contract that is. I like Arrington as a depth CB and ST player but not at $4M APY. I actually feel the same way about Amendola, I like him as a depth WR and KR/PR just not at $5.7M APY. Much of it will depend on how much these players like being in New England and what type of pay cut they would accept to remain.

I suppose that both will be offered restructures (pay cuts). The question is whether they will then be cut and allowed to get contracts elsewhere or whether Belichick will do what he did with Mankins, wait until the last minute to act. Why would either accept a pay cut? After all, they can see what good that did for Kelly.

AMENDOLA
Perhaps a new long-term contract can be negotiated, with bonus, salary and incentives; perhaps not. The patriots will not sign Amendola to a minimum salary contract. He is a #3 receiver and returner. This is a pass-happy league. Someone will have use for him at 2 or 3 million a year. A trade would be possible to team where a $2M difference in cap money isn't a huge issue.

ARRINGTON
IMHO, they will let him go or keep him. His 2015 salary in $3M. IMHO, there are 2 positions on the field where such an amount is worth paying to a backup who might sit on the bench: quarterback and cornerback. IMHO, the team will keep Arrington at his current pay. If the team want to cut his pay to $1M-$2M, I suspect that he would just go elsewhere, even in the week before the season starts.

BOTTOM LINE
As has been the case for a couple of years, I am probably in the minority. I think that Arrington will stay.

 

[Brady6]

I suppose that both will be offered restructures (pay cuts). The question is whether they will then be cut and allowed to get contracts elsewhere or whether Belichick will do what he did with Mankins, wait until the last minute to act. Why would either accept a pay cut? After all, they can see what good that did for Kelly.

AMENDOLA
Perhaps a new long-term contract can be negotiated, with bonus, salary and incentives; perhaps not. The patriots will not sign Amendola to a minimum salary contract. He is a #3 receiver and returner. This is a pass-happy league. Someone will have use for him at 2 or 3 million a year. A trade would be possible to team where a $2M difference in cap money isn't a huge issue.

ARRINGTON
IMHO, they will let him go or keep him. His 2015 salary in $3M. IMHO, there are 2 positions on the field where such an amount is worth paying to a backup who might sit on the bench: quarterback and cornerback. IMHO, the team will keep Arrington at his current pay. If the team want to cut his pay to $1M-$2M, I suspect that he would just go elsewhere, even in the week before the season starts.

BOTTOM LINE
As has been the case for a couple of years, I am probably in the minority. I think that Arrington will stay.

I'm not sure why you refer to Amendola as a #3 WR and KR, he is on pace for 14 catches and 94 yards, and he has only returned 4 kicks this season. I think you are grossly exaggerating what Amendola is on this team. He plays about 20-25% of the teams snaps and is on the field in front of Dobson a second year player who is returning from foot surgery and Tyms a UDFA with 3 career catches. Nobody is going to give a salary of $2-3M. Brandon LaFell got $3.65M and he had a more production in last weeks game then Amendola is pacing to have over a 16 game season. You realize he has 7 catches for 47 yards right now? That would have been a bad game for Welker the player he was signed to replace. He is a depth WR capable of returning kicks but has major durability issues, he will get a 1 year deal for the league minimum plus some incentives this offseason.

 

[mgteich]

I'm not sure why you refer to Amendola as a #3 WR and KR, he is on pace for 14 catches and 94 yards, and he has only returned 4 kicks this season. I think you are grossly exaggerating what Amendola is on this team. He plays about 20-25% of the teams snaps and is on the field in front of Dobson a second year player who is returning from foot surgery and Tyms a UDFA with 3 career catches. Nobody is going to give a salary of $2-3M. Brandon LaFell got $3.65M and he had a more production in last weeks game then Amendola is pacing to have over a 16 game season. You realize he has 7 catches for 47 yards right now? That would have been a bad game for Welker the player he was signed to replace. He is a depth WR capable of returning kicks but has major durability issues, he will get a 1 year deal for the league minimum plus some incentives this offseason.

=============
2014
I understand that you don't like Belichick's decision to continue to have Amendola active and have more reps than any other WR except Edelman and LaFell. You may not like the decision. Amendola may not be being productive. That may all be true. Sometimes, the #3 isn't productive enough. However, the fact that message board fans don't approve of Belichick's decisions does not change the facts. Danny Amendola was the #3 WR for the patriots in 2013 and is so far in 2014.

Please consider the reps of the active receivers in the last three games (or even for the season). Amendola is the #3 WR choice of the patriots. Any day now, Belichick could change his mind. I wouldn't hold my breath.
===============
2015
I will make this prediction now in November. Amendola will play in the NFL in 2015 and he will not be playing for a 1 year deal for the league minimum, plus some incentives. If he plays for the minimum, a team will want the veteran credit, which allows no incentives. However, I believe that he will play for more. There is at least one team that will offer Amendola more than the veteran minimum, and will offer this to him against your sell-thought out advice.
========
AS AN ASIDE
Your argument that LaFell (who was being cut from a team that very badly needed receivers) got $3.65M so DA isn't worth $2M may somehow make sense to you. I don't understand the logic. I would not be at all surprised if Amendola is offered a 2-year $4M deal from the patriots, although I doubt that he would sign such a deal (perhaps a poor decision on his part, or not).

 

[Brady6]

=============
2014
I understand that you don't like Belichick's decision to continue to have Amendola active and have more reps than any other WR except Edelman and LaFell. You may not like the decision. Amendola may not be being productive. That may all be true. Sometimes, the #3 isn't productive enough. However, the fact that message board fans don't approve of Belichick's decisions does not change the facts. Danny Amendola was the #3 WR for the patriots in 2013 and is so far in 2014.

Please consider the reps of the active receivers in the last three games (or even for the season). Amendola is the #3 WR choice of the patriots. Any day now, Belichick could change his mind. I wouldn't hold my breath.
===============
2015
I will make this prediction now in November. Amendola will play in the NFL in 2015 and he will not be playing for a 1 year deal for the league minimum, plus some incentives. If he plays for the minimum, a team will want the veteran credit, which allows no incentives. However, I believe that he will play for more. There is at least one team that will offer Amendola more than the veteran minimum, and will offer this to him against your sell-thought out advice.
========
AS AN ASIDE
Your argument that LaFell (who was being cut from a team that very badly needed receivers) got $3.65M so DA isn't worth $2M may somehow make sense to you. I don't understand the logic. I would not be at all surprised if Amendola is offered a 2-year $4M deal from the patriots, although I doubt that he would sign such a deal (perhaps a poor decision on his part, or not).

WRs who have 47 receiving yards 8 games into the season do not receive $2-3M deals. We can put a wager on if you'd like? He gets the league minimum plus incentives is my bet.

 

[mgteich]

WRs who have 47 receiving yards 8 games into the season do not receiver $2-3M deals. We can put a wager on if you'd like? He gets the league minimum plus incentives is my bet.

It is enough that we can turn to this post when you bring this up next spring.

My guess is $2M-$3M a year, as you state.

Please clarify. Do you still believe that DA will receive a 1-year contract at league minimum with incentives. If you allow more than one year, then would each year be league minimum? I mention this since there are many lucrative contracts at league minimum first year salaries.

 

[supafly]

Why would either accept a pay cut? After all, they can see what good that did for Kelly.

I think Danny Amendola would have a lot of reasons to accept a pay cut, seeing as how he's unlikely to get anything much better from other teams. Of course, that's assuming that our offer would be competitive, which is obviously an assumption that can't be guaranteed.

As far as Kelly goes, I do agree that the front office is more to blame than Kelly, but then again--there's nothing to definitively state that Kelly wasn't going to reach the level of incentives that would've paid him much more than he's currently receiving in ARZ, so I'm not sure that's the best example.

In other words, I think there's enough there to point to some shady dealings with BB trying to save too much money at a position that wasn't extremely deep to begin with, but pointing to the Kelly situation and saying "there's a prime example of why a player wouldn't want to take a pay cut" isn't very fair in my opinion.

 

[Brady6]

It is enough that we can turn to this post when you bring this up next spring.

My guess is $2M-$3M a year, as you state.

Please clarify. Do you still believe that DA will receive a 1-year contract at league minimum with incentives. If you allow more than one year, then would each year be league minimum? I mention this since there are many lucrative contracts at league minimum first year salaries.

He will receive a 1 year contract at the league minimum with playing time and performance incentives.

 

[mgteich]

I think Danny Amendola would have a lot of reasons to accept a pay cut, seeing as how he's unlikely to get anything much better from other teams. Of course, that's assuming that our offer would be competitive, which is obviously an assumption that can't be guaranteed.

As far as Kelly goes, I do agree that the front office is more to blame than Kelly, but then again--there's nothing to definitively state that Kelly wasn't going to reach the level of incentives that would've paid him much more than he's currently receiving in ARZ, so I'm not sure that's the best example.

In other words, I think there's enough there to point to some shady dealings with BB trying to save too much money at a position that wasn't extremely deep to begin with, but pointing to the Kelly situation and saying "there's a prime example of why a player wouldn't want to take a pay cut" isn't very fair in my opinion.

Actually, I point to the Kelly situation to illustrate a patriot strategy: try to get a player to agree to a lower contract to free up some cap money, and then make the decision about the player much later.

With regard to Amendola, I think that Belichick will make an offer. However, DA won't know if it is competitive or not, unless he refuses and is cut.

 

[doesntmatter1]

Amendola is reaching Ochocinco territory. Maybe we should make a thread that predicts his next breakout game like we did Ocho. Weirdly, Amendola's game reminds me of Branch from that same 2011 season. Mostly invisible, but does little things to help contribute.

Ocho only had 15 grabs, but somehow that offense was good enough to win it all if Welker holds onto a certain ball.

 

[Miguel]

FYI - Amendola has a 500K NLTBE incentive for receptions

 

[ausbacker]

I think Danny Amendola would have a lot of reasons to accept a pay cut, seeing as how he's unlikely to get anything much better from other teams. Of course, that's assuming that our offer would be competitive, which is obviously an assumption that can't be guaranteed.

As far as Kelly goes, I do agree that the front office is more to blame than Kelly, but then again--there's nothing to definitively state that Kelly wasn't going to reach the level of incentives that would've paid him much more than he's currently receiving in ARZ, so I'm not sure that's the best example.

In other words, I think there's enough there to point to some shady dealings with BB trying to save too much money at a position that wasn't extremely deep to begin with, but pointing to the Kelly situation and saying "there's a prime example of why a player wouldn't want to take a pay cut" isn't very fair in my opinion.

The conundrum with Amendola is I would like to see what he can contribute at 100% health. He looked great last season against the Bills then it went rapidly downhill into his weakness: injuries.

If Amendola does stick around, his contract should be based heavily around incentives. Sure, his manager won't approve but I'm just not sure there's a bidder's market for him. I still have a small degree of hope that his best is yet to come.

 

[RobertWeathers]

It is enough that we can turn to this post when you bring this up next spring.

My guess is $2M-$3M a year, as you state.

Please clarify. Do you still believe that DA will receive a 1-year contract at league minimum with incentives. If you allow more than one year, then would each year be league minimum? I mention this since there are many lucrative contracts at league minimum first year salaries.

As of now he has 9 catches. $2-$3m seems very high.

 

[Tunescribe]

Amendola is the kind of under-the-radar guy (so far this year) that just might come up big late in the season and in the playoffs.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Amendola is the kind of under-the-radar guy (so far this year) that just might come up big late in the season and in the playoffs.

He has the talent and understanding of the scheme to produce in this offense.

He is a very, very good insurance policy if JE goes down.

 

[ausbacker]

Amendola is the kind of under-the-radar guy (so far this year) that just might come up big late in the season and in the playoffs.

I would hope Dobson and Amendola are major contributors coming down the stretch and hopefully into the playoffs Tune. The more players the Patriots have contributing, the harder they will be to beat.