The Patriots have claimed former Packers tight end Martellus Bennett, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The deal brings Bennett back to the team where he thrived in 2016 and won a Super Bowl ring. To make room, defensive end Geneo Grissom has been cut.
Bennett was stellar with the Patriots in 2016, hauling in 55 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns. However, he was a total dud after signing a lucrative free agent deal with the Packers. In seven games, he had just 24 receptions, 233 yards, and zero touchdowns in seven games. Some in Green Bay believe that Bennett starting phoning it in after Aaron Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone.
By claiming Bennett, the Patriots assume the remainder of the veteran’s three-year, $21MM deal. However, much of his Year 1 salary was already paid out to him via signing bonus. Bennett is due just $423K for the rest of the season.
Initially, it was believed that Bennett would likely pass through waivers unclaimed. While he may have been checked out with the Packers, the Patriots are apparently confident that he will pick up right where he left off.
Last month, Bennett announced that he is considering retirement after the 2017 season. It remains to be seen whether his relocation to New England will change his mind about hanging up the cleats. If he can be productive once again, this could prove to be one of the greatest “rentals” in league history.
Bennett will now join a TE group headlined by Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen. After Grissom was cut, it appears that Jacob Hollister will remain on the 53-man roster for now as the fourth TE.
Love it
Obviously I want nothing more than to upgrade our defense but now with Bennett once everything clicks easily top 3 if not the best offense
Lol. Stop it.
Wow! The Pats just pulled a coup on their rivals. Can’t honestly believe it. Is there something going on here?
There have always been rumors about him letting players go and then bringing them back and getting info from the other team. I think there were rumblings when they got Chung back.
Or when Blount was let go in Pittsburgh and ended up in NE…
At least GB is off the hook now. Now they can continue to lose, get a better draft pick, watch Ted reach for another defensive player to shore up his buddy’s defense (Dom Capers), watch the guru’s give GB another A draft, watch those players underperform, watch the same coaches, watch Rodgers get older, watch Rodgers get pummeled due to a weak OL, watch leads disappear because the defense can’t play defense, and watch other teams play in the Super Bowl.
that’s a lot of complaining for a team coming off a conference championship appearance and who after beating Seattle in week one many thought was a super bowl favourite
Yup. Thompson will make a huge reach with the pick and draft someone who they could have got in the 2nd round. All while passing on someone who is a perfect fit and fell in the draft
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pats are pursuing Gordon as a WR for Brady. They thrive on bad boys. Look at Brady, he spent his youth letting the air out of tires!
Aren’t you clever?
I come here for entertainment and this is the best you got?
Shocked Allen wasn’t cut. He’s been horrible!
So is this a 1 year deal or the pats on hook for the other two years now?
Super Bowl, here come the Patriots again!