A reunion for the ages? Time for the Patriots to bring back Danny Amendola

Danny Amendola will be a free agent. The Patriots need help at receiver. What’s not to like about a reunion?

So a squirrel and a goat walk into a bar to meet some guy named Dola…

Let’s just skip to the part where Julian Edelman, Tom Brady and Danny Amendola go on to wipe the floor with the rest of the AFC.

That’s typically what happens when the trio is on the field together. The perfectly-timed routes, instinctive decisions and near impeccable chemistry—it’s like poetry in motion.

There’s no better way of convincing Brady to finish his career in New England than showing a sign of good faith by bringing back one of his favorite slot receiving targets. After the signing, both Edelman and Amendola can commence to standing outside of Brady’s window holding a pair of Boomboxes over their heads with Player’s “Baby Come Back” cranked to the max.

Brady doesn’t need track stars at receiver.

People are so enamored with the explosive playmakers available to quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs offense that they expect the Patriots to suddenly follow the same blueprint. Yet, Brady isn’t running around and dodging defenders like Neo in “The Matrix” in an effort to take the top off a defense. Those Randy Moss days are long gone for the 42-year-old quarterback.

A veteran receiver with a deep understanding of the Patriots offense and extraordinary route-running mechanics would be the perfect plug-and-play piece in New England. The common theme throughout the 2019 season was the lack of trust Brady had in his receivers. Is there any doubt of him jumping at an opportunity to win another Super Bowl with a familiar face?

They don’t call him “Playoff Amendola” for nothing.

Even if Amendola returns, the Patriots clearly still have more work on the offensive side of the ball. Retooling at tight end, addressing questions on the offensive line and adding another veteran outside receiver should be at the top of the team’s to-do list in the offseason.

But Amendola would offer them a low-budget option that would benefit the team and appease Brady right away. His presence on the field would also take some of the pressure off Edelman, who is probably in an ice bath somewhere still recovering from the punishment he took over the course of the previous season.

An argument could be made that Amendola never should have New England in the first place.

After receiving what he believed to be a low-ball offer from coach Bill Belichick, he opted to sign for more money to play for the Miami Dolphins. After being released one year into his two-year deal, he rejoined former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia by signing with the Detroit Lions on a one-year contract.

Some are quick to point to the fact that he turns 35 this year, but age didn’t stop him from racking up 62 receptions for 678 yards for a team that lost their starting quarterback halfway into the 2019 season.

It would seem as if the Benjamin Button disease isn’t only reserved for quarterbacks.

The two sides should be able to come to an agreement that would allow Amendola to close out his career as a Patriot, while also saving enough money to make other important roster moves. When times get tough, sometimes it’s best to simply go back to what you know.

Few receivers in franchise history, if any, have made as many clutch plays in championship moments as Edelman and Amendola. Reuniting the pair would be a significant upgrade over last season, along with serving as a potential spark in the inevitable negotiation talks that would hopefully keep Brady in New England.