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This week, Bill Belichick won’t be among those inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio after shockingly not getting enough votes to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer despite his illustrious coaching career.
It was news that stunned the entire football world, and had the likes of his former New England Patriots stars, including Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, utterly baffled.
Danny Amendola, the savvy wide receiver who won two Super Bowl rings in New England during Belichick’s tenure, was among those who couldn’t believe his former coach wasn’t a first-ballot entry into the Hall.
TOM BRADY PERPLEXED OVER BILL BELICHICK FAILING TO MAKE HALL OF FAME ON FIRST BALLOT
Danny Amendola of the New England Patriots reacts before Super Bowl LII against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., on Feb. 4, 2018. (Getty Images)
But is there a world where Amendola, along with the rest of his Patriots teammates, could see Brady also fail to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot when he’s eligible in 2028?
Amendola doesn’t even want to think about it.
“I’ve never even thought about that,” he told Fox News Digital after participating in a USAA Salute to Service NFL Boot Camp at Patriots training camp on Tuesday. “I’m getting my suit ready to go support him when he gets his call. There’s no doubt in my mind he will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. That’s never even crossed my mind, that’s crazy to think about.
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“It was wild that Bill didn’t go. Obviously, his record and his hardware speak for itself. He’s a great ball coach, man. We’ll see how it goes.”
One of the reported reasons behind Belichick’s snub as a first-ballot Hall of Famer involved his role in the infamous Spygate and Deflategate controversies that placed stains on his Patriots tenure.
With Deflategate specifically, Brady was found guilty of knowing about the underinflated footballs used in the 45-7 AFC Championship Game victory over the Indianapolis Colts in 2015, leading to a four-game suspension.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates with teammate Danny Amendola after the Patriots’ AFC Championship win against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Jan. 21, 2018. (Boston Globe)
If voters have the same mindset they did with Belichick, is it a crazy thought that Brady could have to wait his turn to get into the Hall like his legendary coach?
To put it nicely, it would be completely insane if Brady were not a first-ballot entry.
Brady has the most Super Bowl rings ever won by an individual player in NFL history, tallying seven over his career — six with the Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (89,214), pass completions (7,753) and passing touchdowns (649).
TRUMP RIPS PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME FOR ‘RIDICULOUS’ DECISION TO SNUB BILL BELICHICK FROM FIRST-BALLOT HONOR
For 23 years, Brady had a record-333 games started, and he is widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time. If that’s not first-ballot worthy, then nobody is.
So, Amendola simply hopes that suit doesn’t need to be put away when it’s time to vote Brady into Canton. But after what happened to Belichick, nobody, no matter the accolades, appears a mortal lock to have their bust created for the Hall of Fame.
GIVING BACK TO OUR TROOPS
After watching Patriots practice, Amendola got to interact and watch some active service members go through USAA’s Salute to Service NFL Boot Camp, the first event of its kind between the team and USAA.
Service members at Naval Submarine Base New London, Naval Station Newport, Joint Base Cape Cod and Hanscom Air Force Base were coached by Amendola as they competed in drills similar to those NFL coaches use to evaluate players, including the 40-yard dash, broad jump, three-cone shuttle and more.
Amendola saw these service members truly competing, even mentioning that one ran a 4.51 40-yard dash, which is quite fast.
Tom Brady of the New England Patriots celebrates a touchdown with Danny Amendola in the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 21, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (Getty Images)
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“These guys are going really hard. They’re having a blast. You can tell they’re smiling from ear to ear and really having fun. It’s great to have them out here — they do so much for our country. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. So, just getting out here, spreading the love of the game, and having some fun doing it. It’s awesome to be a part of,” Amendola said.
“I have a huge appreciation for the military. I was actually going to go to the military if I didn’t get a scholarship to go play football. …It’s awesome to hear their stories, their day-to-day lives,” Amendola added.
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