Amendola signed - 5 years

[Deus Irae]

He also had Gus Frerotte and Joey Harrington throwing it to him. Bradford isn't awesome, but he is better than those two guys for sure.

That said, Brady and the rest of your offense will make Amendola look a lot better than he has looked, and he has looked pretty good (when on the field).

Other than for emotional reasons, I can't see how anyone can think this move is bad, let alone a disaster.

you keep reading this board and you'll see how eventually...heh

Here you go.....

Proven production is one obvious reason. Health questions of Amendola would be another, etc...

 

[reflexblue]

When he's healthy, he's lightening in a bottle.

A bottle made out of thin, brittle glass.

for what ever reason the pats seem to have more than their fair share of injuries over the last few years, so i don't like the idea of bringing an injury prone player onto the team. Call it superstition or negative thinking if you will.

 

[Danger Zone]

... BB wants to win more than anything and simply figured they can put together a BETTER team this year without Wes.

There is only one way that the Patriots are a better team this year without Wes and thats if Welker's "disdain" for the Patriots or his attitude (warranted or unwarranted) had gotten to the point that it outweighed the positives.

Thats one really big "if" in my humble opinion.

I know several people disagree with those of us that feel this had to be personal somehow. I assume the "its not personal" crowd feel it was simply good (or cutthroat) business sense -but at 6 million a year how was it not good business to keep Welker on the payroll?

Unless Welker was insisting on a firm No Trade clause, the "smart/cutthroat" thing to do would have been to sign him and trade him later in the season for actual compensation (though my definition of "smart" can admittedly be very subjective).

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

still not thrilled over the move but it was their only option

 

[NgataTroublemaker]

Here you go.....

Proven production is one obvious reason. Health questions of Amendola would be another, etc...

Fair enough.

The health question I suppose is legitimate, but I do think a player who constantly misses a game or two here or there all season due to minor stuff is riskier than a guy who has sustained a couple, more random, fully healable, big injuries. I think Amendola falls more into the latter category (similar to Gronk). But I admit it is an example of a non-emotional concern.

Not sure I really buy proven production though. But this is because I think your offense (QB and scheme) is superior to other teams such that ANY player will look better on your team even if they haven't personally improved a lick. Amendola had similar success to Welker in college and in the pros, pre-Patriots. Unless you think Welker gained a lot of innate talent at the moment he became a Patriot, it is hard not to conclude the production boost was largely a result of the QB and system.

And obviously there is another nebulous counterpoint to be made for Amendola and that is age. Welker certainly has a few years left in the tank, but it doesn't mean his abilities are not slowly, maybe imperceptibly deteriorating.

Put me on record as thinking Amendola will thrive, big time, for you guys.

 

[IcyPatriot]

He also had Gus Frerotte and Joey Harrington throwing it to him. Bradford isn't awesome, but he is better than those two guys for sure.

That said, Brady and the rest of your offense will make Amendola look a lot better than he has looked, and he has looked pretty good (when on the field).

Other than for emotional reasons, I can't see how anyone can think this move is bad, let alone a disaster.

You should have been here when Milloy was let go ... I think Ian's server crashed that day.

 

[Joker]

You should have been here when Milloy was let go ... I think Ian's server crashed that day.

and Law...and Seymour...and Branch...and Givens...and Willie...and Vrabel...and...well, you get the point

wasn't the Milloy thing what started Tom Jackson on "they hate their coach" diatribe?

 

[deters]

and Law...and Seymour...and Branch...and Givens...and Willie...and Vrabel...and...well, you get the point

wasn't the Milloy thing what started Tom Jackson on "they hate their coach" diatribe?

yep. 1 minute mark

Bill Belichick Coach of The Decade - YouTube

 

[Tunescribe]

There is only one way that the Patriots are a better team this year without Wes and thats if Welker's "disdain" for the Patriots or his attitude (warranted or unwarranted) had gotten to the point that it outweighed the positives.

Thats one really big "if" in my humble opinion.

I know several people disagree with those of us that feel this had to be personal somehow. I assume the "its not personal" crowd feel it was simply good (or cutthroat) business sense -but at 6 million a year how was it not good business to keep Welker on the payroll?

Unless Welker was insisting on a firm No Trade clause, the "smart/cutthroat" thing to do would have been to sign him and trade him later in the season for actual compensation (though my definition of "smart" can admittedly be very subjective).

There might be schematic changes afoot we don't yet know about, de-emphasizing Welker's slot role in favor of a more explosive approach overall. There might be physical factors with Wes we don't know about. We only know what we see as fans; I trust the Pats braintrust has a plan in place.

 

[Deus Irae]

Not sure I really buy proven production though...

1.) No offense, but you buying it is irrelevant. It's inarguable. You can speculate on what Amendola might do in the future, but that's not the same thing as noting the proven production.

I think your offense (QB and scheme) is superior to other teams such that ANY player will look better on your team even if they haven't personally improved a lick.

2.) The list of players who haven't looked better in the Patriots system is a pretty long one. We can start with Chad Johnson and add a host of others.

Unless you think Welker gained a lot of innate talent at the moment he became a Patriot, it is hard not to conclude the production boost was largely a result of the QB and system.

3.) Welker's game was clearly on the upswing before he arrived in NE. It's easy to avoid jumping to the conclusion you choose.

 

[Brady2Moss]

1.) No offense, but you buying it is irrelevant. It's inarguable. You can speculate on what Amendola might do in the future, but that's not the same thing as noting the proven production.



2.) The list of players who haven't looked better in the Patriots system is a pretty long one. We can start with Chad Johnson and add a host of others.



3.) Welker's game was clearly on the upswing before he arrived in NE. It's easy to avoid jumping to the conclusion you choose.

He had 687 yards he wasn't some stud, I wish we could all stop acting like he was amazing before he came here. If his game was on the upswing Amendola's game is too

 

[Deus Irae]

He had 687 yards he wasn't some stud, I wish we could all stop acting like he was amazing before he came here. If his game was on the upswing Amendola's game is too

Given that BB called him uncoverable, I'll stick to my point.

And the Amendola point you raise is irrelevant to my point about Welker's game being on the upswing, due to the context:

Unless you think Welker gained a lot of innate talent at the moment he became a Patriot, it is hard not to conclude the production boost was largely a result of the QB and system.

 

[strngplyr]

Middle finger to Welker. $6.1M a year.

5 years, $31M, $10M guaranteed

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/311980994569838592

The Patriots agreed to a 5-year deal with Danny Amendola, source says. 5 years, $31M. $10 guaranteed. Avg: $6.1

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet
I don't believe in coincidences. So: Welker leaves Patriots for $6M per year in Denver. Danny Amendola signs for $6.1M per year #Math

Among other posts, am I the only one who knows that 31/5 = 6.2 and not 6.1?

#Math, indeed, Ian.

 

[LasVegasPatsFan]

Its only fair to take the "wait and see" approach before making assumptions on Amendola. Many people on this board was scratching their heads when we signed Welker. Welker was a nobody before he came to NE, in fact, he was cut by the Chargers before signing with Miami. Im not advocating that Amendola will be as productive as Welker, but I think it is only fair to give him that chance to prove himself before we past judgement.

 

[Sciz]

Among other posts, am I the only one who knows that 31/5 = 6.2 and not 6.1?

#Math, indeed, Ian.

Nope. I, among others, trusted Rapoport's math in the excitement (or intense lack thereof for some) following the Amendola signing. After that adrenaline wore off, we all realized how wrong he was.

I don't know which is worse, Rapoport screwing up his math on a tweet with a #Math hashtag, or me, two months from receiving a math degree, not immediately noticing his error


(And while we're on the topic of math, happy Pi Day, everybody!)

 

[Joker]

silly wabbit...pi are squared....

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

It seems to me the story really isn't entirely written until we see the contract details. We have some significant needs. The two numbers I have seen so far are $6 million signing bonus and $10 million guaranteed. That seems to suggest around a $3 million cap hit this year, making the "$31 million" number irrelevant. Depending on how attainable the incentives are for Welker's new contract, we are looking at a $6 to $7 million hit to match Denver.

Welker is tough to replace. If we signed him today for $6 million plus $1 million in incentives a year for two years I would have been pretty happy. But until we see what happens with that extra $3 to $4 million this year and next, the book isn't completely written.

 

[DaBruinz]

He had 687 yards he wasn't some stud, I wish we could all stop acting like he was amazing before he came here. If his game was on the upswing Amendola's game is too

I always love when people like you claim that he only had 687 yard. That was on 67 receptions and 99 targets from 3 QBs who had a COMBINED Completion % of .. wait for it..Wait for it.. 57.966%. We'll be fair and call it 58%.

Welker had already started breaking out in 2006 and completed it in 2007 with the Patriots. You'd know that if you actually looked at the math beyond just simple digits. If Welker had been used as much with Miami as he was with the Pats, his numbers would have been just as good. It's right there in black and white.

Just because you choose not to believe it doesn't make it false. It just means you are in denial.

 

[goheels22002]

A 3 TE offense will not be effective.

It will be interesting to see Josh try to make a Ballard, Gronk and Hernandez version of a three TE set work with Brady throwing the rock and a couple of pass catching backs out there with them. I don't think we've ever seen a team with this much pass catching skill at TE in the NFL.

What would an opponent do if the Pats went with a goal line formation at the 50 on 2nd and 7, with the three tight ends lined up tight and Woodhead and Vereen in the backfield with Brady?

 

[DaBruinz]

Its only fair to take the "wait and see" approach before making assumptions on Amendola. Many people on this board was scratching their heads when we signed Welker. Welker was a nobody before he came to NE, in fact, he was cut by the Chargers before signing with Miami. Im not advocating that Amendola will be as productive as Welker, but I think it is only fair to give him that chance to prove himself before we past judgement.

Welker was cut as a rookie because the Chargers wanted to stash him on their practice squad. Miami claimed him off waivers because they needed a kick returner. And that is what Welker was for his rookie year. Just a kick returner/punt returner. He started being used in 2005 as a receiver.

But Welker showed in 2004 what made him special when he kicked a field goal and an exrta point against the Patriots after Mare (?) went down to injury. Oh, he also had 3 kick-offs that averaged 52.7 yards per kick.

I agree that we need to wait and see on Amendola. I still don't like the signing and I am disappointed in how the Pats handled it because Welker had been such a stand-up player.