The New England Patriots already have seen a number of key contributors depart for new teams and it’s only the first day of the new league year.
Malcolm Butler, Nate Solder, Danny Amendola and Dion Lewis all have already agreed to sign contracts with new clubs for the 2018 season. While each loss is a big subtraction for New England, one of them is more important than the rest, according to Tedy Bruschi.
The former Patriots linebacker went on ESPN to dissect the exodus from New England, noting that the loss of Amendola is the most critical for Tom Brady and Co.
“To me, it’s Danny Playoff,” Bruschi said. “You know Danny Amendola, they loved him there in New England, he was clutch in what he did and you just can’t coach clutch. And that’s what Danny Amendola was — not the biggest, not the strongest or fastest — but he just got it done in the biggest of games, a big reason why they made the Super Bowl. These type of players, you need multiple players like this on your team and sometimes it seems like Danny was the only one that was clutch, that was making those plays, that Tom Brady found. So he will be missed. Like I said you can’t coach clutch and this guy has got that gene inside him.”
Of course, Bruschi made these comments before Solder, Brady’s blindside protector, decided to head to the New York Giants for a lucrative contract so he might a different opinion now.
But it goes without saying that Amendola made a number of huge plays for the Patriots and will be deeply missed in New England’s offense.
