{"id":16640,"date":"2018-04-13T09:30:13","date_gmt":"2018-04-13T13:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=16640"},"modified":"2018-04-13T08:55:54","modified_gmt":"2018-04-13T12:55:54","slug":"matthews-requested-permission-from-amendola-for-new-patriots-jersey-number","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2018\/04\/13\/matthews-requested-permission-from-amendola-for-new-patriots-jersey-number\/","title":{"rendered":"Matthews Requested Permission From Amendola For New Patriots Jersey Number"},"content":{"rendered":"

Speaking with the media on Thursday, newly signed wide receiver Jordan Matthews revealed his jersey number that has a very familiar and successful recent history with the franchise.<\/p>\n

Matthews, who wore 81 in Philadelphia and 87 in Buffalo, selected the newly open 80, but only after requesting permission from its previous holder, Danny Amendola.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said I could have it. I have a lot of respect for his game,\u201d Matthews told reporters<\/p>\n

“I know what he did here. I don\u2019t think you have to get a number retired and all that stuff to understand you need to have respect for what guys do in a place like this. They call him \u2018Danny Playoff,\u2019 and I think he earned that nickname. I just wanted to make sure, \u2018Hey, is this cool?\u2019 He said it was.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss<\/a>, Matthews had met Amendola previously at Sam Bradford’s wedding.<\/p>\n

Matthews, who wore 87 last year and in college at Vanderbilt University, had the following to say regarding that number.<\/p>\n

\n

Jordan Matthews wore No. 87 last year, but didn't want to ask for it: "I think somebody is wearing that. I was like, whoever has that I can probably fight him, but I heard he was big. So, I won\u2019t worry about it."<\/p>\n

— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) April 12, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n