Amendola Said Taking Pay Cuts “Wore Me The Wrong Way”
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New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
Former Patriots receiver Danny Amendola has been vocal in recent days about his time in New England and he fired off some additional shots again on a recent appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd.
When asked about whether or not being constantly asked to sacrifice money and individualism, if it wore him out by the time he ultimately left the team, Amendola didn’t hold back.
“I was a huge fan of Bill and the way he coached and his tactics and what he did to prepare us for a game,” said Amendola. “I loved playing for Bill. In a lot of cases, it was the same reason why I went to Detroit and got to play for coach [Matt] Patricia. But the fact that he also wore the GM hat and I had to negotiate my contract with him 3 years in a row by myself and take pay cuts to help him and put rings on his fingers kind of wore me the wrong way. So I felt like it was in the best interest for me to move on.”
As far as we’re aware, at least by the video from the team’s website, the players were also invited to Robert Kraft’s home for a party that included each player also receiving championship rings. So while Amendola claims those titles helped put rings on Belichick’s fingers, he clearly also left with some jewelry of his own.
Amendola backed off a bit when Cowherd followed up and tried to get another rant out of veteran after Amendola credited in the players and not the coaches recently about the Patriot Way, he instead still insisted he highly respects his former coach.
“I’m definitely not anti-Bill, Man,” said Amendola. “I love what he’s done and how he approaches the game as a head coach. Again, business is business and I learned from Bill, you’ve got to do business as business is being done. If he wants to cut your pay in half and you can get more on the street, if you can go somewhere else and help provide for your family, then that’s what you’ve got to do. I feel like that’s the same reason why Tom is out of New England and he’s on to Tampa.”
You can view the full clip below:
"I had to negotiate my contract 3 years in a row by myself, take pay cuts to help him and put rings on his fingers. It kind of wore me the wrong way."
— @DannyAmendola on parting ways with Bill Belichick & the Patriots: pic.twitter.com/K35qBPjkqK
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) February 2, 2021