WR Danny Amendola

[Gi-15]

here is some notes from dallas mini-camp :
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=AC1E9BC8-BCF5-DE7B- 5A081CAF2F0D987A

IRVING, Texas - Cowboys owner Jerry Jones probably didn't know where to devote his attention in Friday's opening rookie mini-camp practice. The Valley Ranch fields were littered with some 27 draft picks, first-year veterans and rookie free agents - many of whom he'd never watched before in person.

Jones liked first-round pick Felix Jones' "smooth" running style. He was impressed with second-round pick Martellus Bennett's soft hands in individual receiving drills and the overall effort and athleticism of this year's camp roster, despite a few drops in the morning session.

Jones offered another positive observation from the 90-minute practice:

"One that didn't drop a ball was the boy from Texas Tech."

That would be rookie free-agent wide receiver Danny Amendola, the 5-11, 183-pound former Red Raider who ran tight routes and caught several passes Friday, including more than one against first-round cornerback Mike Jenkins.

Amendola's polished skills - "real refined," according to Jones - made him an attractive free agent after the draft. He had 109 catches for 1,245 yards and six touchdowns in Tech's spread offense last season, drawing the inevitable comparisons to fellow alum Wes Welker.

"He really runs routes well and he's got that quickness," Jones said. "He will be able to separate in the NFL. Of course a smaller, quicker guy has to separate to make a team and be productive."

Amendola also fielded a few punts on Friday. His quick burst and elusiveness made him effective in that role at Tech, averaging 11.1 yards on 116 career returns.

"You can always work on things," Amendola said. "But today felt pretty good for the first day, getting acclimated with the offense and the routes to run. It was fun."

 

[Don Wassall]

I wonder how many times Jones has referred to one of his black players as "boy."

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

I'm probably being too optimistic b/c I've been let down many times in the past, but I really love which teams our "white boy" skill players picked. I honestly think we've got a legit shot to see Danny Amendola, Todd Blythe, Brett Swain, Luke Swan, Danny Woodhead and Justin Beaver all make either rosters or practice squads. The only guy I think has "zero shot" is Ashton Gronewald in Chicago under No "Lovie" for the white skill player "Smith." I think there's a "very good chance" that Mike Hass might be cut this year unfortunately. Lovie's a complete idiot. This is the current Chicago Depth Chart at WR.

WR: Marty Booker, Brandon Lloyd, Mark Bradley, Devin Hester, Rashied Davis, Mike Hass, Brandon Rideau;
Rookies: Earl Bennett 3rd rd., Marcus Monk 7th rd.

Mike Hass is already 6th on "NO LOVIE's" depth chart with two incoming rookies. In a fair world the Bear's depth chart would look like this for this season at WR:

1st WR: Marty Booker (Split End)
2nd WR: Mike Hass (Flanker)
3rd WR: Earl Bennett (slot)
4th WR: Brandon Lloyd (Backup Slot/ Flanker)
5th WR: Mark Bradley (talented, but "very" often injured)
6th WR: Devin Hester (Return Specialist)
Cut: Rashied Davis (very overrated), Brandon Rideau, Curtis Hamilton (Rookie FA)

Practice squad: Marcus Monk, Ashton Gronewald


Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins

 

[Gi-15]

I hope Hass get cuts, and sign on a team where he is more likely to play, or even come to the CFL, why not? this guy need to see the field

 

[backrow]

another positive article about Danny

Eye Catcher
Not Hard To Pick Amendola Out Of Rookie Crowd

Mark Norris - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
May 6, 2008 4:09 PM

Amendola had 224 career catches for 2,246 yards and 15 touchdowns at Texas Tech.

IRVING, Texas - Rookie mini-camps are filled with players who have long odds on making an NFL roster. But former Texas Tech wide receiver Danny Amendola has been battling those odds as long as he has been playing football - and winning.

So maybe it shouldn't be a surprise he was one of the players catching the eye of Cowboys coaches and even owner Jerry Jones this past weekend here at the Cowboys mini-camp. Video: Danny on "catching" Jerry Jones' eye!

"I just can't wait to see him go against the veteran guys and just watch him work," Cowboys wide receivers coach Ray Sherman said after just the first day of practice.

It was that kind of weekend for the smallish (5-10, 183 pounds) receiver who finished his Red Raiders career with 204 catches for 2,246 yards and 15 touchdowns.

"It's almost surreal, being in this locker room, seeing Terrell Owens' locker," Amendola said. "It's crazy but it's exciting."

Amendola grabbed some of the mini-camp attention during the very first workout Friday morning when he didn't drop a pass.

That perfection didn't continue, but Amendola's ability and skills were hard to ignore for those who will make decisions.

Sherman said the way Amendola makes his cuts and runs his routes makes him stand out, even this early in the talent evaluation process when he was basically going up again other guys just leaving the college ranks.

"I think he did some good things, he really did," Sherman said. "I was impressed with him."

Amendola comes to Dallas as an undrafted free agent. But that doesn't seem to bother him. In fact, it's one of the reasons he chose Dallas over the nine other teams that reached out to him after the draft.

The Cowboys have a history of not being afraid to keep a rookie free agent over a fringe veteran or even a draft choice. One of the more recent examples is Sam Hurd, who made the team's 53-man roster in 2006 after not being drafted out of Northern Illinois. Same went that year for Miles Austin out of Momouth University. Both made the team at eventually the expense of fourth-round receiver Skyler Green.

So Dallas seemed like a good choice for Amendola, considered a Wes Welker knock-off, and probably until he was up to here with the comparison over the weekend.

Of course, there are the intangibles also.

"Playing college ball in Texas, you follow the Cowboys," he said. "It's America's Team, of course. It's a dream to be here."

Amendola knows it will be hard work to even get close to a roster spot. He and the other receivers got the playbook they would use in practice less than a day beforehand. The practices are fast-paced with coaches seeing who can handle the pressures of pro ball and the margin for error is small.

"That's the business of the NFL. You catch on pretty quickly or you don't catch on at all," Amendola said.

Catching on will likely include Amendola playing on special teams. But he's prepared for that too. He did kickoff returns while at Texas Tech and even was on the frontline of the return team for part of his senior year.

"So I can do some blocking," he said.

Amendola said he was prepared to do whatever necessary to play his way onto the team. And it looks like he took a small step toward that goal this past weekend.

 

[devans]

I really hope he does well, but I've read scores of these kinds of complementary articles over the years about undrafted or lower round draft pick white players, and they still end up getting cut. It is almost like the NFL organizations are trying to tempt the white fans to buy season tickets with the hope of some white representation on the roster only to disappoint then at the last minute - when they have already parted with their hard earned cash. And you still go to go and cheer for the black guys wearing your teams uniforms or you would be a racist, right?

 

[jared]

I really hope he does well, but I've read scores of these kinds of complementary articles over the years about undrafted or lower round draft pick white players, and they still end up getting cut. It is almost like the NFL organizations are trying to tempt the white fans to buy season tickets with the hope of some white representation on the roster only to disappoint then at the last minute - when they have already parted with their hard earned cash. And you still go to go and cheer for the black guys wearing your teams uniforms or you would be a racist, right?

You're dead on all points man. I've gotta remember to temper my enthusiasm this year.

 

[referendum]

According to Yahoo Sports Amendola has a chance to make the team due to injuries to other receivers. Wouldn't expect to him to see much action, but just having him make the team, even if only for part of the season (when the more appropriatly pigmented receivers are back), would be a nice boost for his career and maybe inspire him to keep on fighting for a home in the league Not bad for an undrafted free agent.

 

[Don Wassall]

I was watching a bit of the Cowboys-Vikings game, during which the Cowboys third receiver, Sam Hurd, was injured, on top of injuries to Miles Austin and some other scrub they were counting on. Terry Glenn and his bad knees are also gone, which may make Amendola the fourth or even third receiver by default. It would be great to see his whites-only"apprenticeship" speeded up this way, though there's also the danger that he may make some mistakes and earn the eternal wrath of the media and drunk white fans and be laughed off the team when some of the injured hands of stone receivers are healthy.

 

[White Shogun]

Dallas fans I know want Amendola to make the team. They're comparing him to Wes Welker. Again, I haven't seen a pre-season game, and have not watched Hard Knocks. But even from their description it seemed to me that Amendola would be a better option than some of the other wide receivers I've seen play for Dallas in the past. What's the consensus of the board here on Amendola's ability?

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

That is actually a comparison I somewhat agree with. Amendola is similar to Welker although a poorer version of Welker. Maybe Amendola could be a taller version of Rashied Davis, you might also compare Amendola to a slightly less physical version of Jason Advant with slightly less speed, but with outstanding short area quickness. Basically Amendola would be a great slot guy, to run the short down and outs/ins short fade routes, sweeps and do punt returns and he's a great route runner

 

[Gi-15]

Amendola was cut today

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/08/30/cowboys-cut-amendo la-lattimore-dixon/

He may be added to the practice squad

 

[White Shogun]

Amendola was cut today

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/08/30/cowboys-cut-amendo la-lattimore-dixon/

He may be added to the practice squad

Of course he was.

 

[backrow]

Cowboys signed WR Danny Amendola to their practice squad.

The Hard Knocks star may be called up soon with Dallas hurting at wideout

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Hey Danny A. why don't you come to Chicago! I've been a die hard Bears fan my whole life. We all know that you are too talented to be on a practice squad just like Mike Hass was in New Orleans. Lovie would love to show some love and fairness toward a skilled white WR. We all know Wes Welker was almost cut in Miami and went on to flourish, Lovie looks for new Wes Welker types all the time and you fit the mold...(sarcasm)

 

[Gi-15]

danny may sign with philly this offseason :

from rotoworld.com

Cowboys practice squad receiver Danny Amendola plans to sign an offseason contract with the Eagles.
He isn't getting great advice. While Dallas wouldn't be an ideal landing spot either, Philly is flush with slot receivers and Amendola will have a very hard time making the 2009 roster. He'll likely sign a futures contract this week.</font>

 

[backrow]

Danny sets Rams return yards records, but of course to rotoworld he can't possibly be more than their number 4 receiver next year:

Danny Amendola has set a Rams franchise record with 1,643 total return yards and 1,435 kickoff return yards this season.

Amendola spent the first two weeks of the season on the Eagles practice squad, but he's had a lot of return opportunities with the Rams defense easily scored upon. Look for Amendola to keep both return jobs in 2010 as the team's fourth or fifth receiver.
Source: Belleville News-Democrat

EDIT: Don, can we get this moved to Rams section? i think it's good to to keep continuity and not needlessly clutter the boards starting new posts on the same player. Edited by: backrow

 

[whiteathlete33]

4th receiver? He is a starter as of now according to the Rams depth chart. It shows him as having started only one game so far this season though.
Edited by: whiteathlete33

 

[white is right]

I bet he is the same player that Jerry Jones wouldn't let on the field as a Cowboy. I even remember Herm Edwards say something to the effect he loved this kid after a big preseason game this seasn. Then the announcer asked him if he should make the Cheese Steaks and he asked back does he have practice squad eligibility. I always felt that Herm's love of Chrebet at press conferences and post game interviews was fear of a fan back lash if he reduced his role on the team.

Edited by: white is right

 

[whiteathlete33]

I bet he is the same player that Jerry Jones wouldn't let on the field as a Cowboy. I even remember Herm Edwards say something to the effect he loved this kid after a big preseason game this seasn. Then the announcer asked him if he should make the Cheese Steaks and he asked back does he have practice squad eligibility. I always felt that Herm's love of Chrebet at press conferences and post game interviews was fear of a fan back lash if he reduced his role on the team.

Chrebet always produced for the Jets except late in his career when he kept on suffering concussions. Slowpoke Keyshawn Johnson hated Chrebet because he was better than him. That was a bad time to be a Jets fan and a Chrebet fan. Wayne took so much crap from the racist Johnson and kept his mouth shut for too long. I would had the afflete have it.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Amendola is a GREAT return man. As a receiver- he reminds me of Devone Bess more than Welker. Amendola constantly gets open on the short routes and has great hands, but isn't as good after the catch or breaking long receptions as Welker so his YPC is lower.

 

[Leonardfan]

Amendola was one of the good stories of the year. Rams could be fun to watch in the future if Carriker is healthy and not cut. Laurnitis played very well and I thought Craig Dahl was solid. Chris Long will continue to get better. Hopefully they draft a white qb in the next draft.

 

[chris371]

Carriker is such a man-beast...he schould be playing End, he would dominate any OT in a one on one.Edited by: chris371

 

[whiteathlete33]

Amendola will have the return job next year but he should be starting at receiver in St. Louis. He only started 2 games this year but caught 43 passes. Not bad for a guy that Porky the Pig Reid didn't want.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

here's how upside down the personnel moves are in today's NFL ...

Amendola, who set Rams records for kickoff returns and return yardage, hopes solid season has cemented roster spot.

of course, there are precedents for team-leading performances resulting in a quick exit or a demotion the following year ... Wes Welker, Mike Furrey, Matt Jones, Peyton Hillis.... noticing a theme here?