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Red Raiders in the NFL 12.31.14

Jace Amaro named to the All-Rookie team. Amendola steps up, and our Denver Broncos are getting healthy.

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

We took a week off from looking at our players in the NFL for Christmas, but let's see what our guys have done in the last two weeks, or in the case of Cody Davis, what has been done to him. He took a mule kick to the head from a Giants player.

Amaro unsurprisingly is the best rookie tight-end in the league. Although the New York Jets have had a rough season, Jace Amaro has clearly been the best rookie tight end in the NFL and has been named to Sports Illustrated's All-Rookie Team.

Not much has gone right with the Jets' passing offense this year, but in Amaro, the team looks to have a weapon at the tight end position with great potential. The second-round pick's highlight game this season was his 10-catch, 68-yard game against the Broncos on Oct. 12 -- since then, injuries and the general malaise surrounding the team's quarterback position have conspired to limit his opportunities. He has just three catches for 26 yards in his last five games.

Maybe Amaro will get a real NFL-caliber QB some day, and he can really shine.

Amendola steps up to fill in for Edelman. The last two weeks have been good ones for Danny Amendola. He caught 8 passes for 63 yards against the Jets, and then this week Amendola again did well as both a receiver and a returner in the Patriots' loss to the Bills.

Amendola has impressed as a returner, and he continued his strong play with a 26-yard punt return in the second half. He also caught four passes for 24 yards while filling in for Julian Edelman.

Denver Broncos clinch #2 seed and first-round bye. Peyton Manning talks about how this will allow everyone to get healthy. Hopefully our Red Raiders Manny Ramirez, Louis Vasquez and Wes Welker will have a great post-season.

"I think we need it," Manning said of the bye. "I think we're a little beat up, physically. I know I am, I know anybody playing on the offensive line or defensive line, for sure. I know some of our receivers could use this week to hopefully get healthy, I know that's my plan. So I think that's a good thing." -Peyton Manning

ICMYI here's a great article on Welker from ESPN.

Crabtree will consider free agency. The 49ers end their season early, and Harbaugh is gone. Crabtree has indicated he will consider free agency, but he is not opposed to staying in San Francisco.