Getting to know Danny Amendola
While Wes Welker’s decision to go to the Denver Broncos is certainly a devastating loss, the Patriots seemed to have found an adequate replacement who could thrive in New England: Danny Amendola.
The Patriots signed Amendola to a five-year deal worth $31 million just hours after Welker signed with the Broncos. Amendola has been a target for the Pats for some time as they had planned to replace Welker in the event that he took his talents elsewhere. Amendola has always been a very talented player, but durability has been an issue for the wide receiver. Last season, Amendola played in 11 games with the St. Louis Rams with 63 receptions, 666 yards, and three touchdowns. The year before, in 2011, Amendola only played in one game after dislocating his left elbow.
Amendola has often been compared to Welker due to their similar style of play, however he will have very big shoes to fill. Welker has long proven himself to be one of the best wide receivers in the game. His team high 118 catches and 1,354 years last season are a testament to his skill level. At the age of 27, Amendola is younger and faster than Welker, and due to the Pats lack of interest in bringing Welker back, it appears they see him as an upgrade. Amendola certainly is happy to have found a team that values him so highly, as evidenced by his tweets after the signing.
“Blessed. Thankful. Excited to get to work. Go Pats,” Amendola tweeted Wednesday night.
Amendola will benefit from working with Tom Brady. Having an elite quarterback to catch throws from should certainly pad Amendola’s stats in the 2013 season and beyond throughout his five years with the Patriots.
In addition to preforming well on the field, Amendola has found many ways to star in his community. He is the head of the charity Catches for Kids, which works to provide aid and assistance to families in need. The foundation has been active since 2010 and works to provide support to low-income families to provide opportunities to children in need.
Danny Amendola, welcome to New England.
