The Patriots added a bruising running back and a shifty possession receiver on Tuesday, all while saving money and undercutting a division rival.
In other words: business as usual in Foxboro.
The Patriots — after Adrian Peterson came for a visit and incumbent LeGarrette Blount indicated he’s not interested in the team’s standing offer — extended an offer sheet to restricted free-agent running back Mike Gillislee of the Bills.
NFL Network reported the deal is structured in such a way — two years, $6.4 million, with $4 million in Year 1 — that it would be tough for the Bills to match in the allotted five days, comparing it to when the Patriots poached playoff hero Chris Hogan from Buffalo. The Boston Herald reported the Bills don’t believe they will match, in which case the Patriots would owe them a fifth-round draft pick.
Gillislee, 26, a power-speed combo back at 208 pounds, averaged 5.7 yards on 101 carries last season with eight touchdowns.
To carve out room in the budget for Bill Belichick’s would-be new toy at running back, the Patriots convinced Danny Amendola to take a heavy pay cut to stay onboard.
Amendola, 31, who rallied from a down season to catch a touchdown and the game-tying two-point conversion among eight receptions in the Super Bowl, was scheduled to make $6 million in 2017. Instead, according to ESPN, the Tom Brady loyalist will make somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.6 million.
He’s at Coachella with girlfriend Olivia Culpo. He’s fine.
Later Tuesday, the Patriots began settling even more of their affairs: They signed running back James White, another Super Bowl standout, to a three-year contract extension, according to ESPN; and cornerback Malcolm Butler finally signed his restricted free-agent tender, ESPN reported, which could facilitate the bloodless trade of the team’s erstwhile No. 1 cornerback, possibly to the Saints.