Danny Amendola Could Be Done With Patriots?

Update:

Jason La Canfora does not expect the Patriots to release WR Danny Amendola, despite a report from last night.

• La Canfora reports that the Patriots are trying to rework his contract to keep him around next year, and are exploring the situation thoroughly.

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Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, reports that it’s possible the Patriots could move on from WR Danny Amendola.

According to Florio, the Patriots are likely to approach Amendola about taking a pay cut at some point this offseason. This comes after they traded Chandler Jones to the Cardinals and then acquired TE Martellus Bennett from the Bears on Wednesday.

New England has a number of players who will need new contracts in the coming years, and they’re likely to begin the process of locking some players up at some point in the near future such as linebackers Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower.

Florio mentions that Amendola could refuse and essentially force them to either cut him or put him on the trade block in the coming weeks.

Should Amendola end up being available, Florio believes he would draw interest from other teams.

Amendola, 30, is in the second year of his three-year $12.75 million contract and stands to make a base salary of $5 million for the 2016 season. He’s scheduled to make another $6 million salary in 2017.

According to OverTheCap.com, releasing Amendola would free up $4,070,832 in available cap space while creating $2,733,334 in dead money.

In 2015, Amendola appeared in 14 games for the Patriots and recorded 65 receptions for 648 yards receiving and three touchdowns. He also contributed 172 kick return yards and another 276 punt return yards for the team. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 29 receiver out of 121 qualifying players.