One of the biggest names on the New England Patriots' list of free agents is wide receiver Danny Amendola. Coming off arguably his best season since joining the Patriots in 2013, Amendola is scheduled to hit the open market on March 14. But when it comes to the veteran wideout, who finished the 2017 season with 87 catches for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns, there is no place like home.
On Tuesday, Amendola joined a moderated Q&A session at Bryant University – the Patriots held their training camp there from 1976 until 2002 – and his status as an unrestricted free agent also came up. Amendola noted that he would like to stay in New England: “We’ll see what happens,” he said. “I definitely want to be here. To tell you the truth, I don’t want to leave. But it’s a business, I’ve learned that.”
Amendola certainly has experience when it comes to the business side of pro football: After joining the Patriots on a five-year, $28.5 million free agent contract in 2013, the receiver restructured his deal with the team three times over the next four years. Despite all that, however, Amendola was able to carve out a niche on the team and develop a reputation as one of the top clutch performers in franchise history.
How and if this translates into a new contract remains to be seen – but chances are looking good that it will happen in New England. After all, despite getting up there in age, there have been no signs of Amendola slowing down. Combined with his experience, versatility, leadership and rapport with quarterback Tom Brady, Amendola will likely find himself rather highly on the Patriots' list of priorities.
The soon-to-be free agent also spoke about other topics during the Q&A, including rumors about tensions within the organization. According to Amendola, those are not to be believed. “The one thing that I have learned just by being in the building the last five years is that they have the top-tier three pillars,” said the 32-year old. “They have the best owner, they have the best coach and they have the best quarterback, and they all work together really well – despite reports which I can say are B.S.”
The rumor mill has certainly been running at full power this past season and produced stories about the Jimmy Garoppolo trade, a power struggle between Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft, and a brewing conflict between Belichick and Tom Brady's health guru Alex Guerrero. Amendola, at least publicly, is not among those who believe the stories it seems.