Reports: Danny Amendola set to leave New England for Miami

Tom Brady is losing one of his favorite postseason targets: receiver Danny Amendola is leaving the New England Patriots.

As first reported by NFL Network’s Dan Hellie, Amendola will sign a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins.

It’s reportedly a two-year deal for $12 million, with $8.25 million guaranteed.

Undrafted out of Texas Tech, Amendola signed a five-year deal with the Patriots in 2013 after four seasons with the Rams; the idea was that he’d be the replacement for Wes Welker, who left New England earlier in the year.

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Headed for warmer weather: WR Danny Amendola will sign a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins, leaving the New England Patriots after five seasons. (AP)
Headed for warmer weather: WR Danny Amendola will sign a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins, leaving the New England Patriots after five seasons. (AP)

But it wasn’t exactly plug-and-play. Welker had averaged 112 catches per year for his six seasons with New England; Amendola averaged 46.4.

Still, over time Amendola found his own niche in the offense and was valuable as a punt returner. He was at his best in the playoffs: he had 57 catches for 709 yards and six touchdowns in 13 postseason games with the Patriots, including 13 for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the two Super Bowls the team won with him on the roster.

Amendola was asked three times in New England to restructure his deal, taking a pay cut each time.

The 32-year-old signed with Ford Modeling agency last summer and had his own spread in GQ magazine.

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