NFL: Amendola joins Cowboys vying to be copycat
By Tom Orsborn
San Antonio Express-News
IRVING — He's small in stature, big in heart and was a standout slot receiver at Texas Tech.
Given the above, comparisons between Danny Amendola and former Red Raiders star Wes Welker are only natural.
“That's been happening since the day I stepped on campus,” Amendola said. “He's a great competitor and a great player, so it's a positive to be compared to him. I just hope I can emulate some of the stuff he's done.”
But Welker isn't the only receiver Amendola wants to imitate. As a rookie free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, he's also hopes to follow the career path of Sam Hurd and Miles Austin.
“That's one of the reasons I signed with the Cowboys — it can be done and those guys proved it,” Amendola said. “Those guys were undrafted by the Cowboys, but they're both great players.”
Amendola gets his first chance to make an impression today, when the Cowboys open their three-day rookie camp.
Red Raiders receivers coach Lincoln Riley is confident Amendola will immediately raise eyebrows at Valley Ranch.
“One of the things that stands out about Danny is he adapts well to new situations,” Riley said. “I remember the first day he practiced here. It looked like he had been with us for three years.”
Said Amendola: “To make a name for yourself, you have to play as hard as you can from the start.”
Another undrafted receiver from Texas Tech did the same in San Diego four years ago. Welker lasted only one game with the Chargers, but he dazzled as a returner the next two seasons with Miami.
In 2007, the Dolphins traded him to New England. Last season, the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Welker caught 112 passes for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns, numbers that landed him in the Pro Bowl and paved the way for the Cowboys to send a scout to Lubbock last month to study the 5-foot-101/2, 183-pound Amendola.
Like Welker, Amendola was busy during his four seasons with the pass-happy Red Raiders, catching 204 passes for 2,246 yards and 15 TDs, and averaging 11.1 yards per punt return with a TD. Welker recorded 259 catches for 3,069 yards and 21 TDs and averaged 11.6 yards per punt return with eight TDs.
Riley might as well have been talking about Welker when he spoke of Amendola's skills as a receiver.
“Danny is a really good route runner, very precise,” Riley said. “He also plays with great effort, always working hard and picking up extra blocks. He's really fearless and never turns down a hit or the chance to go over the middle.
“Add it all up and you've got a hell of a football player.”
Amendola, who caught 109 passes last season, also received offers from Houston, Miami, Philadelphia and San Diego. He chose the Cowboys over the Texans and the Eagles after studying the teams' rosters.
“The Cowboys are the best bet for me,” said Amendola, a graduate of The Woodlands near Houston. “I grew up a fan, so it's all surreal right now.”
Riley said Amendola's passion for the game isn't surprising considering his bloodlines. Amendola's father, Willie, is head football coach at Spring Dekaney High School in the Houston suburbs. His older brother, Matt, lettered at Baylor as a defensive back in 2000-2002.
“He's a tough, gritty kid and extremely dependable,” Riley
San Antonio Express-News
IRVING — He's small in stature, big in heart and was a standout slot receiver at Texas Tech.
Given the above, comparisons between Danny Amendola and former Red Raiders star Wes Welker are only natural.
“That's been happening since the day I stepped on campus,” Amendola said. “He's a great competitor and a great player, so it's a positive to be compared to him. I just hope I can emulate some of the stuff he's done.”
But Welker isn't the only receiver Amendola wants to imitate. As a rookie free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, he's also hopes to follow the career path of Sam Hurd and Miles Austin.
“That's one of the reasons I signed with the Cowboys — it can be done and those guys proved it,” Amendola said. “Those guys were undrafted by the Cowboys, but they're both great players.”
Amendola gets his first chance to make an impression today, when the Cowboys open their three-day rookie camp.
Red Raiders receivers coach Lincoln Riley is confident Amendola will immediately raise eyebrows at Valley Ranch.
“One of the things that stands out about Danny is he adapts well to new situations,” Riley said. “I remember the first day he practiced here. It looked like he had been with us for three years.”
Said Amendola: “To make a name for yourself, you have to play as hard as you can from the start.”
Another undrafted receiver from Texas Tech did the same in San Diego four years ago. Welker lasted only one game with the Chargers, but he dazzled as a returner the next two seasons with Miami.
In 2007, the Dolphins traded him to New England. Last season, the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Welker caught 112 passes for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns, numbers that landed him in the Pro Bowl and paved the way for the Cowboys to send a scout to Lubbock last month to study the 5-foot-101/2, 183-pound Amendola.
Like Welker, Amendola was busy during his four seasons with the pass-happy Red Raiders, catching 204 passes for 2,246 yards and 15 TDs, and averaging 11.1 yards per punt return with a TD. Welker recorded 259 catches for 3,069 yards and 21 TDs and averaged 11.6 yards per punt return with eight TDs.
Riley might as well have been talking about Welker when he spoke of Amendola's skills as a receiver.
“Danny is a really good route runner, very precise,” Riley said. “He also plays with great effort, always working hard and picking up extra blocks. He's really fearless and never turns down a hit or the chance to go over the middle.
“Add it all up and you've got a hell of a football player.”
Amendola, who caught 109 passes last season, also received offers from Houston, Miami, Philadelphia and San Diego. He chose the Cowboys over the Texans and the Eagles after studying the teams' rosters.
“The Cowboys are the best bet for me,” said Amendola, a graduate of The Woodlands near Houston. “I grew up a fan, so it's all surreal right now.”
Riley said Amendola's passion for the game isn't surprising considering his bloodlines. Amendola's father, Willie, is head football coach at Spring Dekaney High School in the Houston suburbs. His older brother, Matt, lettered at Baylor as a defensive back in 2000-2002.
“He's a tough, gritty kid and extremely dependable,” Riley
posted by The Gryphon at 8:53 AM
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