Out with Danny Amendola and in with Jordy Nelson?
The New England Patriots lost an important piece of their offense Tuesday when Amendola reportedly agreed to sign with the Miami Dolphins in free agency. It didn’t take long for social media to link the Patriots to another veteran wide receiver, though, as the Green Bay Packers released Nelson, who many suggested would be a good fit in New England.
Jordy Nelson is going to look AMAZING in a #Patriots uniform
— Chris Brockman🎙️ (@chrisbrockman) March 13, 2018
The Patriots are replacing Danny Amendola with Jordy Nelson aren't they?
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) March 13, 2018
How long before the #Patriots and Belichick swoop up Jordy Nelson?
— Luke Rodgers (@thelukerodgers) March 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/BartHubbuch/status/973665447555096576
I’m not saying Jordy Nelson is related to #Patriots legend Steve Nelson, but I’m also not against trying to convince him that he might be and thus needs to become a Patriot.
— Matt Chatham (@chatham58) March 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/Umich83/status/973684885096402944
Jordy Nelson signing with the Patriots and catching a Super Bowl-winning touchdown is also something that almost certainly is going to happen.
— Mike Cole (@MikeColeNESN) March 13, 2018
Jordy Nelson released .. sad day one of my favorite WR's last 6-7 years#Packers
Helloooooo Patriots 🤔 (seems like such a Belichick fit)
Falcons/Bills/Cowboys all should be involved— IB THE GAMBLER 🔌 (@incarceratedbob) March 13, 2018
Jordy Nelson is going to be awesome on the Patriots.
— GasMoneyBob (@GasMoneyBob) March 13, 2018
How many hours until the #patriots have replaced Amendola with Jordy Nelson?
— Ari (@FFesq) March 13, 2018
Ima say what everybody is thinking: Jordy Nelson to the Patriots.
— Kenny BooYah! 🖖🏾 (@KwikWarren) March 13, 2018
I’d like to formally welcome Jordy Nelson to the New England Patriots @Patriots
— C4 (@PAPAxC4) March 13, 2018
OK, we’ll stop there. You get the point. As one Twitter user noted, the number of Nelson-to-Patriots tweets was overwhelming.
If I had a dollar for every "Jordy Nelson to the Patriots" tweet just now, I'd be a very rich man.
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) March 13, 2018
So, what are the chances of this actually happening? Probably slim, despite Amendola’s departure.
The Patriots already have enviable wide receiver depth. Julian Edelman, Brandin Cooks and Chris Hogan figure to have prominent roles, while Malcolm Mitchell, Phillip Dorsett, Kenny Britt, Riley McCarron and Cody Hollister will compete for targets. The Patriots also could draft a receiver, especially if they believe they’ll lose Cooks in free agency after next season.
That said, it’s obviously an intriguing idea given Nelson’s stature. He’ll turn 33 years old in May and is coming off a down season (53 catches, 482 yards, six touchdowns), but the Packers were without quarterback Aaron Rodgers for nine games in 2017, and Nelson was excellent as recently as the 2016 season.
Nelson totaled 97 catches for 1,257 yards with an NFL-high 14 touchdowns in 2016 after missing all of the 2015 season with a torn ACL. He totaled a career-high 98 catches for 1,519 yards with 13 touchdowns in 2014.
