NFL free agency rumor: Danny Amendola and Patriots have mutual interest about reunion

With the Patriots’ wide receiver depth chart looking barren and dry, it comes to no surprise that New England and recently released receiver Danny Amendola have mutual interest about a reunion, Jeff Howe of TheAthletic.com reports.

Amendola, who left New England last offseason, inked a two-year, $12 million deal that included $8.25 million in guarantees, with the Miami Dolphins. He was released after one season in which he posted 59 catches for 575 yards and one touchdown.

On his way out the door, Amendola made several comments about Bill Belichick and the “tight-ship” he runs in New England, leaving some to think a potential return would be off the table.

“It’s not easy, that’s for sure. He’s an a--h--- sometimes. There were a lot of things I didn’t like about playing for him, but I must say, the things I didn’t like were all in regards to getting the team better, and I respected him,” Amendola said. “I didn’t like practicing in the snow, I didn’t like practicing in the rain, but that was going to make us a better football team and that was going to make me a better football player. It wasn’t easy, and he’d be the first to admit, at the [Super Bowl] ring ceremony, that it wasn’t easy playing for him. The silver lining was that we were at the ring ceremony.”

Now, the Patriots have a chance to bring Danny “Playoff” Amendola back to Foxboro, and it appears they’d like him back.

Amendola spent five years of his 10-year career with the Patriots. The receiver had the most success of his career catching passes from Tom Brady, piling up 2,383 yards, 12 touchdowns and was a clutch factor in two Super Bowl victories.

With Julian Edelman the only wide receiver on the Patriots roster who has caught a pass from Tom Brady, it makes sense to bring back the 33-year old veteran. A potential deal with Amendola also wouldn't prohibit the Patriots from adding even more bodies at the position, and potentially getting younger through the draft.