The New England Patriots continue to try and figure out what their wide receiving corps will look like in 2014. The team has a lot of decisions to make very quickly as several players are owed money in the coming days. Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman highlight the team's offseason priorities as only one can likely return to the team.
Edelman's future with the Patriots likely rests on what happens with Amendola in the upcoming week. The wide receiver's name has been circulating the trade rumors after his disappearing act in 2013. If he is going to be out-right released, the Patriots must do so by Tuesday. New England has until the end of Tuesday to decide if they are going to give Amendola $2 million in guaranteed money. The wide receiver has a $4.575 cap hit in 2014 if he is still on the team come Wednesday.
The decision on Amendola will play a large part in whether or not Edelman returns to New England in free agency. The Patriots can only afford to re-sign the breakout receiver if Amendola is gone. While it was assumed they would simply let Edelman walk into free agency and bank on his big season, ESPN.com reports New England is prepared to match any offer made on the wide receiver. Mike Reiss reports that Edelman will be allowed to test the market, but New England has no plans of losing him to someone else.
While it seems crazy that New England would abandon Amendola are just one season, the wide receiver did nothing to secure his future with the Patriots. Originally signed to replace Wes Welker, Amendola barely had his name called in 2013 after suffering a groin injury and a concussion. It was not the first season Amendola lost to injuries, leaving little hope that his future will get better.
The Patriots appear to be leaning towards devoting their resources to Edelman over Amendola. Edelman put up 1,056 yards last season while working off a minimum contract. He will not come cheap this season and the Patriots know it. The clock is ticking for them to make a serious move regarding Amendola. They save the most money releasing him in the next 24 hours.
