NFL PLAYER NEWS

Amendola may miss start of year after surgeries

The Sports Xchange

May 16, 2016 at 9:14 pm.

Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) tries to get past Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib (21) in the second half in the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) tries to get past Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib (21) in the second half in the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola might miss the start of the season after undergoing knee and ankle surgeries, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

The 30-year-old veteran had a lingering left knee issued repaired in the offseason, and he also had a bone spur removed from an ankle, according to the story first reported by the Boston Herald.

The timetable for his return is uncertain, though sources told ESPN.com that the operations were “minor” and “not a long-term (concern).”

Another stalwart of the Patriots’ receiving corps, Julian Edelman, is recovering from left foot surgery.

Amendola took a pay cut earlier this month to stay with the Patriots. His new contract tops out at $1.6 million for the 2016 season, a significant drop from the $4.4 million he was making in his previous deal. The revised pact includes $1.25 million in guaranteed base salary, a $100,000 signing bonus and $250,000 for roster bonuses up to 10 games.

The Boston Globe reported last week that Amendola’s new deal is for two years and $8.1 million, but the only guaranteed money is in 2016. His $6.5 million salary remains the same for 2017.

Amendola contributed 65 catches for 648 yards and three touchdowns for the Patriots last season. His best year was 2010 for the St. Louis Rams, when he caught 85 passes for 689 yards and three scores.

For his seven-year career (the first four seasons in St. Louis, the past three in New England), Amendola has 342 receptions for 3,207 yards and 13 touchdowns. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech.

ALL  |  NFL  |  College Football  |  MLB  |  NBA