Many Texas Tech and Dallas Cowboys fans may have an extra reason to watch their team on Sundays this fall.
In the aftermath of the NFL Draft, former Tech receiver Danny Amendola signed a free-agent deal with the Dallas Cowboys after not being chosen last in the draft Sunday.
"I kept getting calls around the fifth and sixth round about how I get some opportunities to go play as a free agent somewhere," Amendola said. "I wasn't too much worried about not signing a deal, but as the picks started winding down, the last part of it was kind of nerve-wrecking. I feel like I made a good decision with Dallas, and I'm ready to get down there."
Amendola is coming off a senior season that was his best as a Red Raider with 103 receptions for 1,177 yards and five touchdowns. His performance in 2007 was second only to Michael Crabtree.
Amendola now has the chance many young football players dream of in Texas.
The former Tech receiver now has a chance with a team he has watched his whole life, as he heads to the Cowboys' rookie mini-camp for Thursday. There he will finish the necessary paperwork and hit the field with the other Cowboys rookie free agents and draftees.
"This is something that I've been waiting for my whole life," he said. "Playing for NFL football has been a life long dream, and I'm truly blessed to have this lifetime opportunity. Growing up in Houston and being in Texas, and being around football my whole life, watching the Cowboys of course, America's team. I'm excited to get the opportunity; it's almost surreal now, it's kind of unbelievable."
Amendola said being a free agent instead of a draftee may mean he has a bigger hill to climb.
"Being a free agent guy, it seems like I got to prove more, just because I'm not getting paid all this money, and I wasn't a high priority for them," he said. "I got to get down there and make the best of my opportunity and try to get a name out for myself."
This year, Tech had no players selected in the NFL Draft, but other former Tech players are in talks with teams.
Defensive back Chris Parker is close to a deal with the Chicago Bears. Parker will head to camp for a tryout for the Bears to assess his health. If his health is in good condition and the tryout goes well, Parker will sign a deal with the Bears.
"It's exciting; it's nerve-wrecking," he said. "Just glad that it's over. I actually get another shot to go out there and prove what I can do. I look forward to it."
Parker went through many of the same feelings Amendola went through on the second day of the draft.
Parker said although he was unsure of what would happen, he knew some team would call to give him a chance.
"Earlier in the week, we knew we were going to get some type of opportunity," he said. "Had a lot of teams calling and seeing where I was at in the draft and stuff like that. We're just glad that something came through."
Tech's former kicker Alex Trlica did not have as much success, as he is yet to receive any calls from a NFL team and still is waiting.
Trlica said most of the blame for no calls could be put on the success rate for kickers in the NFL.
"The odds of getting in is pretty small because none of the teams carry backups," he said. "The chances of me getting in and actually filling in a position and staying with a team, I know are not that great."
Be the first to comment on this article!