Amendola Era or Error?
God, I have a bad feeling about this. I am just sick to my stomach thinking about the hoard of haters that will taunt Belichick if Amendola gets hurt while Welker racks up records with Peyton. I am still having trouble wrapping my mind around how poorly Welker was valued. There is no reason to go with Amendola over Welker except age. Wait, maybe I have a few reasons...or just one, but its a good one: the negotiation game.
Ironically, Welker (although older) is better at staying on the field, and I don't expect that to change. Amendola just hasn't been able to stay healthy the way that Welker has shown that he is able to. Of course, free agency is a game of gambits and gambles, and no one knows when Welker will drop off or if Amendola will get hurt or miss significant time.
The only logic that makes sense concerning the question, "why didn't we match The Broncos offer?" Is simply that Welker gave us the opportunity to match, but he wasn't bound to accept the matching offer. In the end, matching the offer would have driven Amendola's value upwards. Let's say that we match the offer, but end up losing a bidding war. Denver has to pay more money to Welker, but we also would have to pay Amendola more money.
Welker may have given us the opportunity to match because he was trying to increase his own value. That gesture doesn't mean that "he did everything he could to say in New England." Ultimately, Belichick didn't get caught up in Welker's negotiation games. Thereby saving himself money on his replacement, Amendola.
I was initially upset to hear that Welker's money got "1 upped" by Amendola because I am so afraid that he will not play more than 12 games next season. However, free agency is not about paying guys for their past, it is about paying them for the future.
Time will tell, but at least we can take solace in knowing that Belichick knew what he wanted, and he played his game. Belchick won't be bullied by these agents because he knows the games and he's one step ahead.
The big downside is that Welker and Manning are together, but that will just make the rivalry more intriguing, and I am all for that.
Ironically, Welker (although older) is better at staying on the field, and I don't expect that to change. Amendola just hasn't been able to stay healthy the way that Welker has shown that he is able to. Of course, free agency is a game of gambits and gambles, and no one knows when Welker will drop off or if Amendola will get hurt or miss significant time.
The only logic that makes sense concerning the question, "why didn't we match The Broncos offer?" Is simply that Welker gave us the opportunity to match, but he wasn't bound to accept the matching offer. In the end, matching the offer would have driven Amendola's value upwards. Let's say that we match the offer, but end up losing a bidding war. Denver has to pay more money to Welker, but we also would have to pay Amendola more money.
Welker may have given us the opportunity to match because he was trying to increase his own value. That gesture doesn't mean that "he did everything he could to say in New England." Ultimately, Belichick didn't get caught up in Welker's negotiation games. Thereby saving himself money on his replacement, Amendola.
I was initially upset to hear that Welker's money got "1 upped" by Amendola because I am so afraid that he will not play more than 12 games next season. However, free agency is not about paying guys for their past, it is about paying them for the future.
Time will tell, but at least we can take solace in knowing that Belichick knew what he wanted, and he played his game. Belchick won't be bullied by these agents because he knows the games and he's one step ahead.
The big downside is that Welker and Manning are together, but that will just make the rivalry more intriguing, and I am all for that.
Don't think "playing through pain" is the issue; Amendola had dislocated elbow, broken clavicle. He actually came back from the broken clavicle this year really quickly.
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