New England Patriots: 15 best free agent acquisitions of all-time
. WR. (2013-17). Danny Amendola. 9. player. 47
- 2x Super Bowl champion (XLIX, LI)
- 4,684 career receiving yards
- 709 career postseason receiving yards
- Six career postseason touchdowns
There’s a reason Danny Amendola got to be known among his New England teammates as Danny “Playoff” Amendola. Frankly, it’s the same reason Amendola finds his name as high as it is on this list.
It’s not that Amendola isn’t a good regular season player. Among wide receivers, he’s certainly above-average at the position, with moderate speed, decent route-running ability and exceptional hands. For all intents and purposes, Amendola should be one of the top slot receivers in the NFL today – that’s what he’s built for; it’s his true ceiling.
Unfortunately for Amendola (and for his agent), the wideout from Texas Tech developed a reputation for fragility early on in his career that probably has cost him numerous snaps’ worth of playing time, as well as millions of dollars to boot. In 10 years, Amendola has made it through a full 16-game regular season just twice: once with the then-St. Louis Rams back in 2010, and once in New England in 2014.
Thankfully for the Patriots and their fanbase, that latter season was an important one for him to be healthy for, as it was the same year the team broke a decade-long championship drought with a thrilling win over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.
Amendola was nothing short of sensational during the entire postseason run that year. Playing in just his second season with the Patriots, he caught 11 receptions for 137 yards and three touchdowns in the playoffs alone, including five catches for 48 yards and a touchdown in the championship game.
Two years later, Amendola was back at it again, catching 10 balls for 90 yards and a touchdown in the 2016-17 postseason. He came through when the team needed him most during the Patriots’ furious 25-point comeback, scoring on a late touchdown and a two-point conversion to earn a second Super Bowl ring for himself.
Amendola had his best postseason to date in 2017, though, finishing with 26 receptions for 348 yards and two touchdowns. Though the Patriots ultimately lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII that season, and Amendola eventually left for the Miami Dolphins in free agency, he will forever hold a place in New England postseason lore for his incredible performances.