The Facts:
The Patriots handed Amendola a five-year, $28.5 million contract last offseason (with a $6 million signing bonus), expecting to get a gritty veteran receiver. Instead, OC Josh McDaniels described the receiver as somewhat of a greenhorn. "Danny's not dissimilar to the rookies," McDaniels said. "He wasn't here before, and he had an opportunity to get a foundation and a system last year. And now it's his second year, and it will be exciting to see Danny's growth. Any time you're in your second year in a system, you're more comfortable. We're excited to see what he does."
Reported by NFL.com
Fantasy Football Diehards Line:
The Patriots paid Amendola to fill Wes Welker's shoes in 2013. What they got was an oft-injured player who started just six games (played in 12) and caught 54 passes. But as NFL.com notes, Amendola's production wasn't that far off what he became known for during his four-year stint in St. Louis: Miss multiple games with injuries, catch 50 to 75 passes, gain 600-or-so yards and grab a couple of touchdowns. ... Meanwhile, New England's off-season moves don't suggest that team officials have great confidence in a sudden turnaround. The Pats re-signed Julian Edelman -- who became the player Amendola was paid to be -- brought in veteran Brandon LaFell and drafted Jeremy Gallon. With Rob Gronkowski expected to return from a torn ACL and an improved Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson hoping to buttress Edelman, Amendola might be in a fight for playing time.
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