Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Coach impressed by work ethic of Danny Amendola
DAVIE — Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase is raving about veteran wide receiver Danny Amendola’s impact on the team. Apparently, Amendola’s work ethic has been quite impressive so far.
“It’s one of those values that I don’t think you can put a price on,” Gase said on Pro Football Talk Live on Wednesday morning.
“He’s been great in our locker room. I think the guys watch him work on the field and in the weight room and they understand why he’s played as long as he has, why he’s had success in big situations.”
Amendola was undrafted out of Texas Tech in 2008 but worked his way into a prime role with New England the last five years, becoming a postseason standout.
Gase said Amendola, a 32-year-old, nine-year veteran, is setting an example for others.
“Any time you can get a guy who can not only produce for you but can be a great example for other guys in your locker room, he’s making other guys better,” Gase said. “He makes 24 other offensive guys better if they watch him work.”
Amendola is viewed as part of the two-headed solution, along with Albert Wilson, the former Kansas City Chiefs slot receiver, to fill the void left by Pro Bowl receiver Jarvis Landry, who was traded to Cleveland.
Dolphins offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains also mentioned Amendola when he spoke last week, saying he expects Amendola to be a threat in the red zone and in the classroom.
“(We are excited) not only about what he’s going to bring down there,” Loggains said of the red zone, “but what he’s bringing to the offense and to the team in the wide-receiver room.”
Wednesday wasn’t the first time Gase has praised Amendola, who will be a big part of the third-down offense. Gase did the same thing a week ago while discussing his observations about Amendola and the example he sets for his fellow receivers.
“I think when you’ve got a guy that’s been in a lot of big games, has won a lot of games, made plays in big games and the professionalism you just see it,” Gase said. “The way he walks around, there’s just something about him that guys kind of gravitate too. They kind of want to watch how he does things. The younger guys follow him.
“It’s interesting to watch Drew (Morgan) and Isaiah (Ford) just following him around mimicking a lot of the things he does. I think between him and Kenny (Stills) — both of those guys have been around — and watch those guys lead that group and have an effect on the other guys in the locker room in a positive way, that’s a big thing for us.”