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Bennett’s season is over in New England

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Martellus Bennett (File Photo)

Martellus Bennett’s season came to an end, less than a month after he was released by the Green Bay Packers and signed by the New England Patriots.

The Patriots put Bennett on injured reserve on Monday, after missing last week’s game against Miami with hamstring and shoulder injuries.  He had a total of six receptions for 53 yards in wins over the Broncos and Raiders.

Bennett was released by the Packers on November 8 after “failing to disclose a physical condition.”

Bennett was waived in Green Bay after accusing the team physician of pushing him to play through a shoulder injury.

Bennett rips Packers after returning to New England

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It didn’t take long for Martellus Bennett to find a new home after the Green Bay Packers waived him on Wednesday.  He was claimed by New England on Thursday and was on the practice field with the Patriots on Friday.  But the story doesn’t end there.

On Instagram, Bennett claimed that the Packers knew of his worsening shoulder injury but tried to get him to continue to play.  Bennett claimed the Packers releasing him had all to do about money.

In his post, Bennett claimed team physician Dr. Patrick McKenzie tried to persuade him to play thru a major injury.  Packer players didn’t have much to say about Bennett’s Instagram post, but they did show support for McKenzie.

The Packers physician is known to be more conservative with regards to players returning to action after being injured.  He care’s about the player’s health and well-being and supports their best interests, not that of the team.  Bennett’s claims towards McKenzie definitely go against the norm.

What doesn’t add up is Bennett saying he wanted to have surgery to repair his rotator cuff, but as soon as he was claimed by New England, those plans have all of a sudden changed.  Bennett is practicing with the Patriots and appears to be ready to play the second half of the season in New England.

The Packers return to action Sunday when they face the Bears in a noon kickoff in Chicago.

Bennett claimed by Patriots

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It didn’t take long for Martellus Bennett to find a new home.  After Bennett was released by the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday, he was claimed by the New England Patriots on Thursday.

The Packers released Bennett with a designation of “failure to disclose a physical condition.”  He can join the Patriots immediately.

Last season, Bennett played for the Patriots, catching 55 passes for 701 yards and seven touchdowns and helping them win the Super Bowl.

Bennett told the Packers before he was released that he had a shoulder injury and he wouldn’t be able to play again this season.  If the Patriots pass him on his physical and he does play for them, then the Packers will have a real solid case in terms of recouping some of the signing bonus money already paid to him.

The Packers gave Bennett a $6.3 million signing bonus.  The prorated portion that is left is $4.2 million.

Bennett’s intentions will be made much more clear if he plays for the Patriots this season.  If that happens, then it will look like he quit on the Packers and jumped ship as soon as Aaron Rodgers was lost with an injury.  If he doesn’t play or doesn’t even pass his physical, then one is more inclined to believe the actual injury is legit.  Time will tell.

Bennett’s departure from Green Bay leaves them with two tight ends at the moment.  They’ll go with Richard Rodgers and Lance Kendricks.

 

Bennett has been one big disappointment

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Martellus Bennett

The Green Bay Packers didn’t reach a deal with Jared Cook after last season and nobody is really sure how hard they tried.  Cook went on to sign with the Oakland Raiders and currently has 39 catches for 499 yards (12.8 ypc) and one touchdown in his first nine games.

The Packers instead, signed Martellus Bennett to a three-year deal worth $21 million.  But Bennett’s time in Green Bay ended on Wednesday when the Packers released him, just eight games into the season.  The Packers cited a failure to disclose a physical condition.

Bennett was listed on the injury report last week with a shoulder injury.  The injury was something Mike McCarthy said he didn’t know about until after practice on October 31.  That practice just happened to be three days after Bennett announced on his Instagram account that he is considering retirement at the end of the season.

By claiming Bennett failed to disclose a physical condition, the Packers are saying Bennett didn’t inform them of a previous injury before signing his three-year deal with the team.  It sets up the possibility that the Packers will try to recoup a portion of the signing bonus the Packers paid him. [Read more…]

Injury depleted Packers have no answer for Falcons

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Mercedes Benz Stadium

The Green Bay Packers were already playing without a significant disadvantage when both of their offensive tackles, David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga were held out of Sunday nights game in Atlanta.  Then  take away Mike Daniels (hamstring) and Jordy Nelson (quad) in the early part of the game and the task became next to impossible.

The Packers started the second half trailing 24-7 but had the ball.  That’s when quarterback Aaron Rodgers was hit from behind with his pass ruled behind the line of scrimmage.  Atlanta’s Desmond Trufant scooped up the loose ball and rumbled 15 yards for a touchdown that would put the Falcons up 31-7, on their way to a 34-23 victory over the Packers in the first game at new Mercedes Benz Stadium.

The Packers went with second year offensive lineman Kyle Murphy at left tackle and Justin McCray at right tackle.

Aaron Rodgers was sacked three times but hit several more.  He finished 33 of 50 for 343 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. [Read more…]

Bennett emotional after seeing video of his brothers incident with police in Las Vegas (AUDIO)

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Martellus Bennett (File Photo)

Green Bay Packers tight end Martellus Bennett heard from his brother, Michael Bennett, after an incident on August 27 involving police in Las Vegas.  He told reporters on Wednesday that he tried to be the calming influence at the time.  But after seeing a video of the incident for the first time on Wednesday, he had to excuse himself from a meeting room at Lambeau Field as he broke down crying.

Martellus Bennett spoke with Green Bay reporters for about 20 minutes on Wednesday and was in tears by the end.

AUDIO: Martellus Bennett reacts to seeing the video of his brother being detained by Las Vegas police :23

Michael Bennett posted a social media message Wednesday morning with regards to the incident following the Floyd Mayweather-Connor McGregor on Aug. 26.  He accused police of using excessive force and drawing a gun on him.  He said officers pointed [Read more…]

Bennett supports his brother’s protest stance

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Martellus Bennett

Tight end Martellus Bennett said he supports his brother Michael Bennett’s decision to protest by sitting through the national anthem last Sunday night, but the Green Bay Packers tight end was non-committal when asked if he had plans to do the same.

Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick gained national attention for sitting through national anthem’s for an entire season.  Michael Bennett followed up last Sunday night before the Seattle Seahawks’ preseason game against the San Diego Chargers, protesting racial inequality.

Martellus Bennett on Tuesday, said he’s behind his brother.

AUDIO: Martellus Bennett says he supports his brother Michael in his protest :15

Bennett said he didn’t know his brother was going to protest the anthem before it happened.

Asked if he thought about joining his brother’s protest, Bennett said he prefers to protest in other ways.

AUDIO: Martellus Bennett said he prefers to protest in other ways :09

New Packers tight end Bennett is all about chemistry (AUDIO)

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Martellus Bennett during OTA workouts.

New Green Bay Packers tight end Martellus Bennett said he may not be a captain, but he is the captain of fun.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers said Bennett brings a lot of confidence to a team and feels he could be in the captain role before it’s all said and done.

Bennett’s skill level on the field will suit the Packers well.  But his ability to blend with his teammates has stood out.  Bennett said having chemistry with every player on the team and getting to know all of his teammates is important to him.

“Not just with quarterbacks and receivers, as a team overall,” said Bennett.  “You know, guys hanging out, having lunch together. It doesn’t matter if I’m hanging out with a DB or a linebacker or going to a movie with a defensive lineman or offensive lineman, just being able to mingle with all of the [Read more…]

Cook signs free agent deal with Oakland

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Jared Cook couldn’t get a deal with the Green Bay Packers, but former Packers personnel man Reggie McKenzie, who is not the Oakland Raiders general manager, signed Cook to a two-year contract worth up to $12.2 million.  The first season of the deal is fully guaranteed.

Cook went into the offseason as one of the priorities for the Packers.  The Packers were in discussions with Cook but the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement.

Cook took other visits but eventually settled with Oakland.  The Raiders finished 12-4 last season and was a real postseason threat until quarterback Derek Carr was lost for the season with a broken leg.

With the Packers, Cook caught 30 passes for 377 yards and a touchdown, then added 18 more receptions for 229 yards and two touchdowns in three playoff games.

The Packers signed Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks instead and Cook, despite not landing a deal in Green Bay, still gets a chance to play for a team on the rise in Oakland.