The New England Patriots are keeping Danny Amendola around on a reduced salary, but they might not be finished adding wide receivers this offseason.
The Patriots are targeting receiver Stevie Johnson in free agency, sources told NBC4’s Dianna Marie Russini. Johnson caught 35 passes for 435 yards with three touchdowns with the San Francisco 49ers last season in 13 games. He was released earlier this week.
Johnson spent his first six seasons in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills. He put up three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from 2010 to 2012. His best season came in 2010, when he had 82 catches for 1,073 yards with 10 touchdowns.
Johnson was known as one of the few wide receivers who had success against Darrelle Revis during the cornerback’s first stint with the New York Jets. Johnson caught 11 passes on 16 targets for 159 yards with a touchdown in two games against Revis in 2011. He has 15 catches on 26 targets for 185 yards with two touchdowns in five career games against Revis. Revis has intercepted one pass intended for Johnson.
With Revis back on the New York Jets, the Patriots could be looking for Johnson to put up similar numbers against the All-Pro corner. Johnson has caught 32 passes for 421 yards with four touchdowns against the Patriots.
Johnson controversially tweeted in 2013 that if North Korea were to bomb the U.S., to strike Foxboro, Mass., first.
Thumbnail photo via Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports Images
