Pats Vegas? Raiders Land Another New England Super Bowl Champion
If the Las Vegas Raiders wanted to resemble the New England Patriots any more, they'd have the one-eyed football player logo in their famed emblem don a tricorn hat.
The Raiders have added yet another former Patriot to their front lines, as former New England receiver Danny Amendola is now listed as a coaching assistant for returners on the official ledger on the team website.
Combined with its recent signing of quarterback Brian Hoyer, Las Vegas now has 15 former New Englanders either on its roster or in primary management. That list also includes head coach Josh McDaniels, general manager Dave Zeigler, and players like Jimmy Garoppolo, Chandler Jones, and Jakobi Meyers.
Amendola closed a 14-year NFL career last summer, rising from the ranks of the undrafted to play with seven teams including a five-year tenure with the Patriots (2013-17). He earned two Super Bowl rings in that span and is perhaps best-known in New England lore for catching the Tom Brady pass on a two-point conversion that not only completed the Patriots' comeback from 28-3 down against Atlanta in the 51st edition but also forced the first overtime in the game's history. Amendola previously scored one of the comeback's fourth-quarter touchdowns en route to the 34-28 victory.
Other notable Amendola happenings in Foxboro included a two-touchdown performance in the AFC title game win over Jacksonville the following season and he led the Patriots in the following week's return to the Super Bowl with 152 yards in the 41-33 loss to Philadelphia. That became his final game with the Patriots, as he spent his final NFL seasons between Miami and Detroit.
It's easy to see why the Raiders would call upon Amendola's expertise in the return game: he formally introduced himself to the NFL scene in 2009 with the St. Louis Rams by leading all kick returners with 1,618. Amendola raised the bar in the following season, posting 2,364 all-purpose yards that once again topped all participants. His return skills carried over to New England, as he led all qualified punt returners with a 12-yard average runback.
The Patriots will enjoy a reunion with all of their alumni at some point next fall, as the Raiders are among their 2023 road opponents.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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