Age: 24 (Nov.
2)
2nd
season in pro football, 1st active & with Rams
College: Texas
Tech
Height: 5’11” Weight: 186
Prelude:
Amendola
caught 204 passes in college, including 109 for 1245 yards and six touchdowns
as a senior (and adding in 6 for 68 yards and a TD in the Gator Bowl). Undrafted
in 2008, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys and spent the entire regular season
on the practice squad after being waived. The Eagles signed him to their
practice squad for the postseason. He went to training camp with Philadelphia
and started the ’09 season on the practice squad until the Rams signed him from
there in September.
2009 Season Summary
Appeared in 14
of 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 43
Most
receptions, game – 7 (for 55 yds.) vs. Seattle 11/29
Yards – 326
Most yards,
game – 61 (on 4 catches) vs. Arizona 11/22
Average gain
– 7.6
TDs – 1
Rushing
Attempts – 3
Yards – -2
Average gain
– -0.7
TDs – 0
Kickoff
Returns
Returns – 66
[1]
Yards – 1618
[1]
Most yards,
game – 217 (on 9 ret.) at Tennessee 12/13
Average per
return – 24.5 [17]
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 58 yards
Punt Returns
Returns – 31
[8, tied with Captain Munnerlyn]
Yards – 360 [6]
Most yards,
game – 79 (on 3 ret.) at Arizona 12/27
Average per
return – 11.6 [7]
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 56 yards
All-purpose
yards – 2302 [6, 1st in NFC]
Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6
Rams went 1-15
to finish fourth in the NFC West.
Aftermath:
Amendola had
a bigger year in 2010, seeing more action on offense as an effective slot
receiver with 85 catches for 689 yards, still returning kicks, and leading the
league in all-purpose yards with 2364. However, an elbow injury suffered in the
2011 season-opening game had him spending the rest of the year on injured
reserve and he missed another five games due to injury in 2012. Amendola
departed for New England as a free agent in 2013, where it was anticipated that
he would help fill in for departed WR Wes Welker, and he had 54 catches for 633
yards while appearing in 12 games. His production declined in 2014 but he
became a significant factor in the postseason, which was capped by a touchdown
reception in the Super Bowl victory over Seattle. Through 2014, he has caught
277 passes for 2559 yards (9.2 avg.) and 10 touchdowns, averaged 23.6 yards on
138 kickoff returns and 10.2 yards on 106 punt returns. Of those totals, 196
receptions for 1726 yards (8.8 avg.) and seven TDs came with the Rams, where he
also averaged 23.5 yards on 118 of the kickoff returns and 10.5 yards on 89
punt returns.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing: Yards,
TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
