Amendola?

[supafly]

Amendola is 28 years old either he is not in a development period as a player anymore. I cannot think of a player who all of a sudden developed into that type of player at age 29 in his sixth NFL season and having been a starter since his first NFL season, which is what Amendola will be in 2014.

While Amendola isn't anywhere near a "developmental" player anymore, it's probably pretty fair to say that he's still in a development phase here in this system, particularly at a time when there really isn't a clear cut option at the position of WR; especially in a year where they are trying to get rookies involved + the offense is still in a period of growth.

Again...I do agree with you that Welker is the better player and most likely will always be the better player, but there are positives in Amendola that may be able to be developed as he and Brady get more comfortable playing together.

I have no problem with your questioning whether or not he is worth his contract, but the point is basically moot anyway since they pretty much have to keep him through at least 2014 at the earliest. If he is not producing at a high enough level by that point, then they can ask for a paycut or move on from him.

Attempting to assess whether or not he's "worth it" after 6 starts (with at least 2-3 of them being very good) is beyond pointless, not to mention unfair. I don't mean that to come off as disrespectful, sarcastic, or personal towards your thoughts either. I just think it's extremely unfair for any player. We've got to wait until at least the end of the year--if not 1/2 or more of next year too. The guy has only made 6 starts (I don't include the N.Orleans concussion game for obvious reasons) and had at least 2-3 good games in those starts. Let's hold off a bit

 

[Joker]

The guy has only made 5-6 starts and had at least 2-3 good games in those starts. Let's hold off a bit

Hell no...LYNCH HIM!!!

 

[AzorianPats]

He had 10 receptions for 104 yards and 0 touchdowns, that wouldn't of even made the highlight clip if it was Wes Welker. The 16 reception 217 yard 2 touchdown performance Welker hung on the Bills in week 3 of 2011 that was a man possessed, Amendola had a good game in week 1 against the 29th ranked passing defense in the NFL.

You look to much at the stats, not the facts.

Amendola with a torn groin was the only guy getting open week one at Buffalo. A game our offense looked God awful, and a game where Buffalo game plan was to take Amendola, our only established receiving threat out of the game. Outcome we won a game we had no business winning.

Welker performance week 3. @ Buffalo 2011 came during a game, where Buffalo was looking to take away our dynamic tight end at the time, out of the game. Outcome, great fantasy football game for Welker, but we LOST a game we had no buisness losing.

Here's a fact about Welker, during his time here, he was NEVER Brady's number 1 receiver. It was always either Moss or now Gronk, with help from Hernandez, Branch, and Llyod.

So you can throw all the yearly stats you want during Welker time here, but the FACTS are in real life, defenses were always gonna give us the Welker yards and catches between the 20's, but their focal points was to always take Moss or Gronk away.

 

[AzorianPats]

Does anyone really think if Welker was still here, he'd be putting the same stats as previous seasons? Welker ALWAYS benefitted by playing with a strong supporting cast. He's the greatest slot WR ever, but he was never our #1 WR. He was Brady #1 security blanket.

I highly doubt he'd have more success than Amendola is, if he played with no Gronk, Hernadez in jail, 2 rookie WR starting out wide, and defenses focused solely on him.

I'd put my house on the line that game day threads would be harping on how Welker lost a step.

 

[MassPats38]

Does anyone really think if Welker was still here, he'd be putting the same stats as previous seasons? Welker ALWAYS benefitted by playing with a strong supporting cast. He's the greatest slot WR ever, but he was never our #1 WR. He was Brady #1 security blanket.

I highly doubt he'd have more success than Amendola is, if he played with no Gronk, Hernadez in jail, 2 rookie WR starting out wide, and defenses focused solely on him.

I'd put my house on the line that game day threads would be harping on how Welker lost a step.

I think his stats may be higher, but only because he would be in the security blanket role JE played early on and would get a ton of passes thrown his way (far more than previous years, even when he is not particularly open). His YPC would be down because he would be getting hit immediately, but I expect everything else would be up.

When times are tough, you go with the guy you trust and Brady obviously trusted him. Welker is still quick enough to get open, so he would have likely seen plenty of passes this year.

 

[primetime]

It's not straw man primetime Amendola is 28 years old either he is not in a development period as a player anymore. Edelman didn't play wide receiver in college so although he isn't much younger he is still new to his position therefore growing into the role, up until this season he also has never received consistent reps. Amendola played his position through college and then was a featured #1 or #2 option in St Louis I don't understand why you think his being here makes him more than the player who projects for 65-75 receptions and 600-675 receiving yards over a 16 game season? That's what he is, and you know what I'd wager a large sum that Amendola will never have a 100 reception, 1000 yard season in the NFL it. I cannot think of a player who all of a sudden developed into that type of player at age 29 in his sixth NFL season and having been a starter since his first NFL season, which is what Amendola will be in 2014.

You're the one grasping at straws attempting to defend a mediocre player who is playing below his contract would expect.

That's... not what a straw man is. But okay, I'll continue biting.

Aside from the fact that you're discounting age as a factor for Edelman while making it a big issue for Amendola even though the latter is only 6 months older and Edelman has had three years more in the system, the major issue is that you're arguing that a player is basically 'not worth it' if he isn't an All Pro or Hall of Fame caliber player.

$5 million is a completely reasonable contract for a guy who catches 65-75 balls and functions as a team's #2 target. Again, some of the people at a similar price point are Eddie Royal, Josh Morgan, Devin Hester, Santana Moss, and Nate Burleson. If you look at guys who aren't on their rookie contract making similar salaries, I'd take Amendola over all of them.

Also, I actually don't have to think that hard to remember a guy who developed late. Brandon Lloyd became a top receiver when he was 29 after a bunch of disappointing years. When Amendola was healthy, he was hardly 'disappointing.'

 

[Brady6]

While Amendola isn't anywhere near a "developmental" player anymore, it's probably pretty fair to say that he's still in a development phase here in this system, particularly at a time when there really isn't a clear cut option at the position of WR; especially in a year where they are trying to get rookies involved + the offense is still in a period of growth.

Again...I do agree with you that Welker is the better player and most likely will always be the better player, but there are positives in Amendola that may be able to be developed as he and Brady get more comfortable playing together.

I have no problem with your questioning whether or not he is worth his contract, but the point is basically moot anyway since they pretty much have to keep him through at least 2014 at the earliest. If he is not producing at a high enough level by that point, then they can ask for a paycut or move on from him.

Attempting to assess whether or not he's "worth it" after 6 starts (with at least 2-3 of them being very good) is beyond pointless, not to mention unfair. I don't mean that to come off as disrespectful, sarcastic, or personal towards your thoughts either. I just think it's extremely unfair for any player. We've got to wait until at least the end of the year--if not 1/2 or more of next year too. The guy has only made 6 starts (I don't include the N.Orleans concussion game for obvious reasons) and had at least 2-3 good games in those starts. Let's hold off a bit

Personally I am not attempting to assess him after just six games I am assessing him as a player who is in his 5th NFL season and close to 30 years old. I do not think that him coming to New England changes what he is as a player as I said before I feel that Welker’s leap in productivity was causation vs. correlation falsely meaning his being in New England was not the cause for his increase but rather his arrival correlated with his improving in years 1, 2 and 3 etc. and also with his increased opportunity, Brady being a great QB certainly helped but as we’ve seen many times with Galloway, Johnson, Price, etc. Brady does not make a wide receiver if a receiver is not doing his job Brady will go elsewhere.

When I assess Amendola over a period of 4.68 seasons I see a player that does not merit being paid the 26th most annually of any wide receiver in the NFL.

 

[Huckleberry1]

You look to much at the stats, not the facts.

.

That's because he doesn't know anything about football, all he knows is stats and fantasy garbage. Following the 2 best wins they have had this year, N.O., and Denver he has spent his entire week trashing Amendola. He doesn't care about the team he only cares about fantasy bullsh.t.

 

[50-yard-line]

I agree with the dissapointment in Danny but the player im most dissapointed with is Hightower.

The problem with Hightower is that they're asking him to do too much, IMO.

When Spikes walks (hope not, but he will, I fear), Hightower will be put in a position more suited to his size and speed - he'll be a much better mix with Mayo and Collins than he is with Mayo and Spikes.

 

[50-yard-line]

That's because he doesn't know anything about football, all he knows is stats and fantasy garbage. Following the 2 best wins they have had this year, N.O., and Denver he has spent his entire week trashing Amendola. He doesn't care about the team he only cares about fantasy bullsh.t.

Spot on, Ivan.

Anyone who watched the last drive of the Buffalo game and wants to argue that Edelman and Vereen played a bigger role in the win than Amendola is kind of silly.

They had more catches! Yeah, because Amendola missed half the game. In the end, when it was on the line, Brady went to him, repeatedly, and he made unbelievable catches, particularly when you factor in the injury.

 

[yukon cornelius]

amendola, when healthy, has done everything the game plan has asked him to do


and he has shown a propensity to make the big catch to move the chains


no issues

 

[SalemPats]

This may surprise you, but there is nothing in the NFL rulebook that states that a team is limited to a single white wide receiver on the field on any given play.

Quote of the day

 

[PatsFan2]

amendola, when healthy, has done everything the game plan has asked him to do


and he has shown a propensity to make the big catch to move the chains


no issues

Lets hope Sunday Nights game by him was aberration and not the norm.

 

[Deus Irae]

Does anyone really think if Welker was still here, he'd be putting the same stats as previous seasons? Welker ALWAYS benefitted by playing with a strong supporting cast. He's the greatest slot WR ever, but he was never our #1 WR. He was Brady #1 security blanket.

I highly doubt he'd have more success than Amendola is, if he played with no Gronk, Hernadez in jail, 2 rookie WR starting out wide, and defenses focused solely on him.

I'd put my house on the line that game day threads would be harping on how Welker lost a step.

Stop with this nonsense. Just stop.

Welker had 118 catches last year, with Gronk and Hernandez taking turns being on the shelf, Edelman going down with injury, the corpse of Deion Branch getting significant playing time as the WR3, and Welker starting the year off not even being the starter in the 2-2-1 packages.

The notion that he wouldn't be having more success than Amendola is asinine. Amendola's played in 7 games and has 32 catches, and he got 10 of those catches in 1 game. Without that Buffalo game (esp. the drive where he had 4 catches), you'd be looking at a guy with just 22 catches in 6 games, and his only other "big" game came in Pittsburgh, where he managed just 4 catches but got over 100 yards because of a busted coverage by the Steelers defense.

 

[Deus Irae]

Lets hope Sunday Nights game by him was aberration and not the norm.

Amendola's numbers this year:

10
4
2
3
4
6
3

Sunday wasn't an aberration, because the man is hurt and limited. The leg's still bothering him, and you can see it in his play. The best hope is probably just that he gets a little bit better every week.

 

[AzorianPats]

Stop with this nonsense. Just stop.

Welker had 118 catches last year, with Gronk and Hernandez taking turns being on the shelf, Edelman going down with injury, the corpse of Deion Branch getting significant playing time as the WR3, and Welker starting the year off not even being the starter in the 2-2-1 packages.

The notion that he wouldn't be having more success than Amendola is asinine. Amendola's played in 7 games and has 32 catches, and he got 10 of those catches in 1 game. Without that Buffalo game (esp. the drive where he had 4 catches), you'd be looking at a guy with just 22 catches in 6 games, and his only other "big" game came in Pittsburgh, where he managed just 4 catches but got over 100 yards because of a busted coverage by the Steelers defense.

Like I said, show me what he's done when he's been the focal point of the offense. When teams go man on welker they tend to shut him down, like Arrington did Sunday. You can throw all the useless stats u want. Teams that knew how to beat us gave us those yards between the 20's..

 

[Brady6]

amendola, when healthy, has done everything the game plan has asked him to do


and he has shown a propensity to make the big catch to move the chains


no issues

If you take out the 57 and 34 yards receptions against the Steelers that Amendola was uncovered and were gifted to him you are left with 30 receptions for 267 receiving yards, 8.9 yards per reception and 0 touchdowns. Danny might have a leg injury but he also has a 6% drop percentage this season which has nothing to do with his groin.

I have not seen him make any big catches, he had a few key first downs in week 1 but that was hardly a high pressure big game situation that would show the propensity to make the big catch, actually against the Bengals he was unable to pull in several key balls when it matter that would have helped us potentially tie that ball game.

 

[Brady6]

Here's a fact about Welker, during his time here, he was NEVER Brady's number 1 receiver. It was always either Moss or now Gronk, with help from Hernandez, Branch, and Llyod.

Facts? These are not facts not even close they’re not even in the only thing wider than Amendola and Welker as players is actually these “facts” and reality.

Gronkowski and Hernandez were rookies in 2010 and the entire offense was built around Wes Welker, no team honored 2 relatively unknown 2nd and 4th round draft picks over Wes Welker the suggestion of such is absurd, in 2012 Gronkowski and Hernandez were not on the field together after week 1 healthy, and Hernandez was a good player but he was not the type of 1on1 matchup that Moss or Gronkowski was so I don’t think he merited more attention than Welker.

Honestly your assertion is silly do you really think that Welker doesn’t benefit the players like Moss, Gronkowski and Hernandez just as much as they benefited him, take a look at Gronkowski this year he is not getting open as easy, what was Moss doing in Oakland before and what did Moss do after he left, having teams forced to honor the underneath coverage with Welker helped them just as much.

 

[AzorianPats]

Facts? These are not facts not even close they’re not even in the only thing wider than Amendola and Welker as players is actually these “facts” and reality.

Gronkowski and Hernandez were rookies in 2010 and the entire offense was built around Wes Welker, no team honored 2 relatively unknown 2nd and 4th round draft picks over Wes Welker the suggestion of such is absurd, in 2012 Gronkowski and Hernandez were not on the field together after week 1 healthy, and Hernandez was a good player but he was not the type of 1on1 matchup that Moss or Gronkowski was so I don’t think he merited more attention than Welker.

Honestly your assertion is silly do you really think that Welker doesn’t benefit the players like Moss, Gronkowski and Hernandez just as much as they benefited him, take a look at Gronkowski this year he is not getting open as easy, what was Moss doing in Oakland before and what did Moss do after he left, having teams forced to honor the underneath coverage with Welker helped them just as much.

2010 was Welker worst statistical season as a Patriot. Thank you for proving my point.

Hernandez was one of the most dynamic players in the league, so because of his size and speed had to be accounted for. Why do you think the FO paid him and not Welker?

Gronk is always open.... who you fooling?

Moss in Oakland was still one of the best receivers to play the game, and got a second life, coming here, playing with Brady. Please tell me what was Welker in Miami again?

 

[Ring 6]

If you take out the 57 and 34 yards receptions against the Steelers that Amendola was uncovered and were gifted to him you are left with 30 receptions for 267 receiving yards, 8.9 yards per reception and 0 touchdowns. Danny might have a leg injury but he also has a 6% drop percentage this season which has nothing to do with his groin.

I have not seen him make any big catches, he had a few key first downs in week 1 but that was hardly a high pressure big game situation that would show the propensity to make the big catch, actually against the Bengals he was unable to pull in several key balls when it matter that would have helped us potentially tie that ball game.

This is an assinine post. "If you take away the plays he got wide open on" is just ridiculous. I know you hate the guy, but come on.