Amendola making playoffs his personal playground
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Danny Amendola is Bill Belichick’s kind of player.
After battling injuries throughout 2016, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound receiver has had some of the best moments of his fiveyear Patriots’ tenure during their past two playoff runs.
It started last year with his touchdown catch and game-tying two-point conversion during New England’s comeback win over Atlanta in the Super Bowl.
Amendola’s been just as dependable this postseason. He caught 11 passes for a playoff careerhigh 112 yards in New England’s divisional round win over Tennessee.
He then hauled in two touchdown catches, including the winner, in the Patriots’ AFC Championship Game win over Jacksonville. He enters his third Super Bowl as New England’s leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns this postseason.
“When you look up ‘good football player’ in the dictionary his picture is right there beside it,” Belichick said. “It doesn’t matter what it is. Fielding punts, third down, big play, red area, onside kick recovery — whatever we need him to do.”
Often Tom Brady’s third option in the passing game behind Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman, Amendola reworked his contract this past offseason just to stay in New England.
Belichick credits Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, then the St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator when Amendola was there in 2011, with recognizing his potential.
Amendola originally was signed by Dallas as undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech in 2008. Following stints on the practice squads for the Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, he was in his third season with the Rams when he caught McDaniels’ eye.
Amendola’s role increased in 2017 after Edelman tore the ACL in his right knee during the preseason and Malcolm Mitchell went on injured reserve for a knee injury prior to the start of the regular season.
Amendola found himself in the game plan even more when Chris Hogan had a shoulder injury in Week 10 at Denver.
Whether it was those injuries or Gronkowski leaving the AFC title game with a concussion, Amendola said he’s tried his best to adapt. “I don’t feel any added pressure,” he said. “Every play I’m competing my tail off to try to win the route, win the block or whatever my job is on that play.”
Amendola says he has developed an unspoken language with Brady. Now, a simple glance from his quarterback can lead to an adjustment that can be the difference between an incompletion or a touchdown.
“He’s made so many big catches,” Brady said. “I’m always looking for him at some point. I mean, he’s a big part of what we do, so he’s never not part of what we’re doing.”