CHANDLER, Ariz. — Not everyone can be a star on the New England Patriots.
Brandon LaFell was asked who are the unsung heroes on the Super Bowl XLIX-bound Patriots, and the wide receiver named players who have drawn the ire of New England fans over the years.
“I would have to say the unsung heroes of this team would have to go to Kyle Arrington, Danny Amendola and our starting offensive linemen,” LaFell said. “Those guys are stepping up and making plays when we need them. (Center Bryan) Stork, a rookie, stepped up and started 14-plus games for us and made a lot of plays. Amendola, key play in the Jets game, key plays in the Ravens game to help us get across. Kyle Arrington, you know, he shut down T.Y. Hilton I think twice this year.
“Brandon Bolden makes a lot of plays for us. Blocked punts, big blocks to help spring guys in the kick return game and Matthew Slater.”
Arrington and Amendola might not technically be considered starters, because they play the slot role on opposite sides of the ball, but they’re key to the Patriots’ success, and they could play important roles against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in the Super Bowl.
Arrington is likely to spend some time covering Seahawks No. 1 receiver Doug Baldwin, and Amendola could haul in short passes while exploiting the Seahawks’ deep Cover-3 zone scheme.
Arrington once was known as a player prone to give up big plays, but he’s become one of the Patriots’ most consistent defenders. Amendola signed a big contract in 2013 and hasn’t put up the stats to match it, but key catches down the Patriots’ stretch run have won over some of his critics.
Thumbnail photo via Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports Images
