Former Patriot Danny Amendola released by Dolphins originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com Danny Amendola's time with the Miami Dolphins was certainly brief. After signing a two-year, $12 million deal with the team last offseason, he will find himself hitting the free agent market once again. We have released wide receiver Danny Amendola. Full Release: https://t.co/95oGp9O7oF — Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) March 8, 2019 Amendola finished his Dolphins career playing in 15 games while catching 59 passes for 575 yards and a touchdown. Money was Amendola's primary motivation for leaving the Patriots last offseason. Per ESPN's Mike Reiss, Amendola said that Bill Belichick's offers weren't going to come close to what he got on the open market. "When free agency broke, I came to the realization that [Belichick] wasn't going to really come close to any of the other offers I had," he said. "I had to make a decision for my family and go down to Miami and continue my career there." If all things are financially equal this time, perhaps Amendola will return to the Patriots. The Patriots have a handful of free agents at the receiver position, including Chris Hogan, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Phillip Dorsett. If any of those guys end up leaving, the Patriots could consider signing Amendola. He knows the system well. It's just a matter of whether or not the team will give him a contract he believes he deserves. Of course, the possibility of Amendola joining another AFC East team, the New York Jets, also exists. The Jets need receiving help for Sam Darnold, are armed with cap space, and have Amendola's former head coach with the Dolphins, Adam Gase, at the helm. There are other options for the Patriots at the position as well, and NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry outlined a few available options that could also fill a role in the slot. Story continues Another slot receiver available in free agency. Amendola joins Cole Beasley, Adam Humphries, Jamison Crowder and Randall Cobb. Few available in the draft as well. Patriots could use one. https://t.co/C9Dtz0gA5V — Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) March 8, 2019 We'll soon see which direction the team ends up going in at the receiver position. Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.<doc-sep>The Miami Dolphins have a new staff full of experienced former Patriots coaches, however they're parting ways with an ex-New England receiver. The Fins released Danny Amendola on Friday, just one year after signing him. After five years with the Pats, which included two championship seasons, Amendola inked a two-year, $12 million deal with Miami in 2018. He expressed a level of relief at leaving head coach Bill Belichick's authoritarian regime before embarking on a 7-9 season that included 59 receptions for just 575 yards and one score. Even at his relatively reasonable salary, Amendola apparently wasn't a fit for new head coach Brian Flores, who previously ran the Patriots defense, and offensive coordinator Chad O'Shea, who was Amendola's position coach in New England. Since Amendola's contract was terminated prematurely, he's now free to sign with a new team immediately rather than wait for the official start of NFL free agency Wednesday afternoon. Another Patriots deal:Michael Bennett headed to New England Mock draft:Who might be headed to AFC East? He could be a candidate to return to New England, where wideouts Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett and Cordarrelle Patterson are all headed to the free agent market. *** Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis. If you love talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our new Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders.<doc-sep>
Danny Amendola needs a job, and the New England Patriots need a receiver. Could a reunion be in the works? The Miami Dolphins released Amendola on Friday, and he is interested in rejoining the Patriots, who may have a great deal of turnover at wide receiver with Phillip Dorsett, Chris Hogan and Cordarrelle Patterson set to enter free agency. Josh Gordon is set to become a restricted free agent. Amendola would be interested in returning to the Patriots https://t.co/d6qXNWaZYR — Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) March 8, 2019 Amendola burned Bill Belichick on his way out the door last offseason, with Amendola expressing frustration over Malcolm Butler’s benching in the Super Bowl LII loss. However, he may have grown discontented in Miami under Adam Gase in 2018. Perhaps that time with the Dolphins has changed his perspective on New England’s negatives. Bringing back Amendola could be tricky for the Patriots. New England has a developmental slot receiver on the roster, Braxton Berrios, and Belichick could (and should) also look to draft and develop more young talent at the position. They need to stock on young talent, with Julian Edelman, who will turn 33 in May, being the only player of significance at the position. If he became an immediate contributor, Amendola might interfere with the development of those younger players. But the Patriots do have to think about acquiring contributors in the passing game who can contribute in 2019, and right now they’re not looking at many sure things. Amendola has proved to be incredibly trustworthy and would be a plug-and-play cog in New England’s offense. Depending on what sort of money he’d want, the Patriots would be wise to add him to the roster as a depth option while seeking more talented and younger options.