Balzer: Amendola Contract Not What Originally Advertised

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As is often the case in the reporting of contracts, the deal wide receiver Danny Amendola signed with the New England Patriots is not what was originally advertised.

Widely circulated as a five-year contract worth $31 million, the total value is actually $28.5 million and $2.5 million of that are [hil]per-game roster bonuses[/hil] of $31,250 that are included in each of the five years of the deal.

If Amendola is able to play all 16 games in a season, his total take from the roster bonuses would be $500,000. In the last two seasons with the Rams, Amendola played a total of 12 games; one in 2011 and 11 last season.

He did receive a $6 million signing bonus and $4 million of his base salaries are fully guaranteed. The yearly salaries are $2 million this year (guaranteed), $3 million in 2014 ($2 million of which is guaranteed), $4 million in 2015, $5 million in 2016 and $6 million in 2017.

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[hil]* that's smart.[/hil]

 

[Stranger]

As is often the case in the reporting of contracts, the deal wide receiver Danny Amendola signed with the New England Patriots is not what was originally advertised.

Widely circulated as a five-year contract worth $31 million, the total value is actually $28.5 million and $2.5 million of that are [hil]per-game roster bonuses[/hil] of $31,250 that are included in each of the five years of the deal.

If Amendola is able to play all 16 games in a season, his total take from the roster bonuses would be $500,000. In the last two seasons with the Rams, Amendola played a total of 12 games; one in 2011 and 11 last season.

He did receive a $6 million signing bonus and $4 million of his base salaries are fully guaranteed. The yearly salaries are $2 million this year (guaranteed), $3 million in 2014 ($2 million of which is guaranteed), $4 million in 2015, $5 million in 2016 and $6 million in 2017.

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[hil]* that's smart.[/hil]

Part of me would have had no problem with a similar deal offered by the Rams, but then again, Tavon will be a much less expensive option. Let's just hope Tavon can learn how to protect his body and stay healthy. If I had any misgivings about Amendola, it was his recklessness. But then again, that is also what helps to make him so exciting.

 

[jap]

Part of me would have had no problem with a similar deal offered by the Rams, but then again, Tavon will be a much less expensive option. Let's just hope Tavon can learn how to protect his body and stay healthy. If I had any misgivings about Amendola, it was his recklessness. But then again, that is also what helps to make him so exciting.

Tavon already knows how to protect his body---that is a big part of what makes him so attractive to me. The lack of this knowledge is also what turned me off from Danny to some extent. A ball carrier has to recognize when he has gotten all the yards he's going to get on a play and just go down. He has to be aware of where defenders are and have some intuitive awareness of what all the forces directed toward his body can do. Being reckless with a small frame is not courageous nor smart.

I have seen some tough little ball carriers come through the NFL. I remember James Brooks, a tough little, speedy son-of-a-gun RB who played for the Cincinnati Bengals at 5'10" 180 pounds. James would take hellacious hits from the defenders who were obviously trying to put him out of the game. He would look at them in open disdain and come back even harder the next carry. This mighty mouse had three 1000-yard seasons with the Bengals and two extra 900+ seasons.

More recently, Warrick Dunn was another mighty mite who suited up for the TB Bucs at 5'9" 187 pounds. He churned out 5 1000-yard campaigns with his speed, electric moves, and sheer grit.

Tavon Austin impresses me as being in their mold, except that he is a RB turned WR. As a slot or wideout receiver he will hardly face the monsters in the pits, although he will contend with the lighter LB's and DB's. You better believe that he has already often had to face defenders who felt the best way to stop him was to knock the snot outa the little guy and have him leave the field on a stretcher. If he made it through high school as an RB and through the college ranks as a highly successful WR/RB/PR/KR, you better believe he has had to develop survival instincts on the field.

 

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Some comments from Amendola

[textarea]“He’s a great player,” Amendola said. “He’s been to a lot of Pro Bowls, and he’s done a lot of great things to help the Patriots win. One of my main goals is to fulfill my role and try to do what I can to help the Patriots win as well.”

Amendola said his familiarity with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who had that same job in 2011 for the Rams, played a key role in his decision.

“Well, that was the main thing,” Amendola said. “Playing for Josh for one year gave me the opportunity to learn his offense and kind of figure out what I could do within the offense.”

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/no-deal-with-long-or-delmas-for-rams/article_218de7fa-1c28-53c0-aa6b-b7b4dcdd3b5f.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football ... d3b5f.html</a>
[/textarea]
I don't understand those comments. Especially the last one. McDaniels was here for one year, without an off-season or OTAs to prepare, and Amendola played ONE game under him. How much could have really absorbed from that experience? I don't even remember him practicing with the team after being injured.

 

[RamFan503]

Some comments from Amendola

[textarea]“He’s a great player,” Amendola said. “He’s been to a lot of Pro Bowls, and he’s done a lot of great things to help the Patriots win. One of my main goals is to fulfill my role and try to do what I can to help the Patriots win as well.”

Amendola said his familiarity with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who had that same job in 2011 for the Rams, played a key role in his decision.

“Well, that was the main thing,” Amendola said. “Playing for Josh for one year gave me the opportunity to learn his offense and kind of figure out what I could do within the offense.”

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/no-deal-with-long-or-delmas-for-rams/article_218de7fa-1c28-53c0-aa6b-b7b4dcdd3b5f.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football ... d3b5f.html</a>
[/textarea]
I don't understand those comments. Especially the last one. McDaniels was here for one year, without an off-season or OTAs to prepare, and Amendola played ONE game under him. How much could have really absorbed from that experience? I don't even remember him practicing with the team after being injured.

I'll translate. blah blah blah... It wasn't about the money blah blah blah. Yer welcome.