FOXBORO, Mass. — Danny Amendola isn’t going down without a fight.
The New England Patriots wide receiver ruffled some feathers Saturday in his team’s AFC Divisional Playoff against the Chiefs when he laid out Kansas City special-teamer Jamell Fleming with a vicious hit to the neck on a second-quarter punt return. But if Amendola receives punishment from the NFL — which wouldn’t be shocking — he’s not going to take it.
“I’ll appeal if I’m getting fined, but I thought it was a clean hit,” Amendola said after the Patriots’ 27-20 win.
Amendola was flagged just 2 yards on the play, as it happened on the Patriots’ 4-yard line. And he said he was just doing what he was told to do.
“We’re coached to do that,” Amendola said. “It’s a big play if I block that guy and the ball bounces in the end zone. We get the ball on the 20-yard line, so it’s a big play in the game, big play for field position.”
For what it’s worth, Fleming seemed to understand Amendola’s actions.
“(Chiefs punter) Dustin Colquitt is one of the best, especially at the pooch play,” Fleming said. “All I have to do is go find the ball. Of course they know that, too. That’s why he did what he did.”
It should be interesting to see how this one plays out, as Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict received a three-game suspension for his dirty hit to Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. Brown sustained a concussion and has been ruled out for Sunday’s divisional-round game against the Denver Broncos.
Thumbnail photo via Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports Images
