The Facts: Amendola has altered his contract with the Patriots for the second straight season.
Diehards Line:Amendola was set to make $5 million this season and was on the books for a $6 million salary in 2017, numbers that led to some discussion that he could find himself a cap casualty. As he did last year, Amendola has traded in some of that money. Mike Garafolo of FOXSports reports that Amendola signed a new deal that will pay him $7.35 million over the next two seasons with $750,000 more available through roster bonuses and catch incentives. As PFT notes, making less money should help Amendola’s job security, but the Patriots have added several receivers in free agency and the draft that could change the makeup of the receiving corps by the time September rolls around. Chris Hogan, Nate Washington and fourth-round pick Malcolm Mitchell join holdovers Keshawn Martin and Aaron Dobson as other options to go with Julian Edelman in New England.