A Tuesday radio interview with Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola ended with the line dropping after a third consecutive question about the player’s health or injury history.
The interview, which was conducted by 98.5 FM “The Sports Hub” in Boston, was an opportunity for Amendola to promote an upcoming event for his “Catches For Kids” charitable foundation. However, the interview — which was taped in advance of airing by station host Adam Jones — also aimed to ask a few football questions, too.
According to audio posted on the radio station’s website after the interview and also later played on the air, the three-question sequence began when Amendola was asked how he would characterize his injury history.
“It’s not something I really think about, to tell you the truth,” said Amendola, who has missed a combined nine regular season games in the last two seasons and was limited to just one game in 2011. “My job is to be as healthy as I can and to play good football, and that’s really the only thing I focus on, so I don’t really think about it too much.
Amendola was then asked about his current health.
“I feel really good,” the receiver said.
“Everyone’s getting stronger, getting faster,” Amendola added, referring to the Patriots’ offseason program.
Then came a third question, which referenced the clavicle injury that caused Amendola to miss time with the Rams in 2012. Shortly thereafter, the line dropped, and the interview ended.
In fairness to Amendola, it could have been a technical issue that ended the interview. And let’s be sympathetic to the plight of an interview subject who has to face repeated questions about a sensitive issue. There are more enjoyable topics to discuss.
Nevertheless, we have audio of an interview that cuts off after another injury question, which leads to the perception — rightly or wrongly — the topic wasn’t to Amendola’s liking.
Amendola’s injury history is a material part of his story. He has missed significant time in each of the last three seasons. This is his sixth NFL campaign.
Now, if Amendola puts together a productive 16-game season in 2014? The injury discussion changes. The past ailments aren’t as easily brought up. Instead, the focus is on how he stayed healthy for a full season.
And Amendola will have earned that.