Martellus Bennett wants to play for Bears

[Bonecrusher#31]

Martellus Bennett wants to play for Bears
Posted by Josh Alper on March 12, 2013, 4:14 PM EDT


It was just a short time ago that we passed along word on the Bears’ reported interest in tight end Martellus Bennett.

We can go ahead and take the reported off of that interest. Bennett didn’t wait long after the official start of free agency to send out a tweet announcing that he’ll be headed to the Bears so that he could play with his “older brother” Brandon Marshall. And then a short time later he clarified his earlier tweet.

Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune reports that Bennett, who ranks 21st on PFT’s list of the top 100 free agents this offseason, has an agreement in principle in place with the Bears already and that he’s expected to be in Chicago to meet with the team on Tuesday. Barring some catastrophe during that meeting, it would seem that it won’t be too long before Bennett’s making an official announcement that he’s the newest member of the Bears.

 

[Midswat]

Pretty sure he wants to play for whoever will pay him.

 

[Theebs]

They get rid of Greg Olson a good pass catching tight end and then give free agent money to Bennett.

That's a smart bunch right there.

 

[Bonecrusher#31]

Source: Martellus Bennett to Bears
Updated: March 12, 2013, 4:23 PM ET
By Michael C. Wright | ESPNChicago.com

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears agreed in principle on terms Tuesday to sign former New York Giants tight end Martellus Bennett, according to an NFL source, making the tight end the club's first acquisition in 2013 free agency.

Terms of the deal weren't immediately disclosed. Bennett is scheduled to meet with the Bears on Tuesday night, according to the souce.

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Bennett, 26, experienced a breakout season in 2012, when he caught a career-high 55 passes for 626 yards and five touchdowns, in addition to showing consistency as a run blocker. The Giants made a late push to re-sign Bennett before the free-agency signing period, according to sources, but it's unknown whether the Bears could swoop in and land him.

Selected in the second round of the 2008 draft by the Dallas Cowboys, Bennett signed a one-year contract worth $2.5 million going into the 2012 season.

New Bears coach Marc Trestman and his offensive staff made it clear upon arrival that the team will now stress versatility from the tight end position.

"We need a tight end that can threaten the defense. We need a tight end that can create stress in the middle of the field or wherever we place him because we're going to line him up next to the tackle," Bears tight ends coach Andy Bischoff said back when the team introduced the new staff. "We're going to line him up outside the numbers. We're going to line up in the backfield, and we're going to expect the defense to figure it out.

"So we need a receiver who can catch the ball, and we need a receiver who can block enough to be lined up in the backfield if we put him there. The days of the tight end that blocked and ran flat routes in this league are coming to an end. The guys that just run 3-yard flat routes, that's not going to do anything for you."

According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Bears targeted a tight end on fewer passes (66) than any team in the NFC, and finished with the fewest receptions (33) in the league from the position. When the tight ends did manage to catch a pass, they averaged 3.4 yards after the catch, which ranked 28th in the NFL.

Perhaps Bennett can remedy the lack of production at the position.

 

[BraveHeartFan]

They get rid of Greg Olson a good pass catching tight end and then give free agent money to Bennett.

That's a smart bunch right there.

I don't understand that at all either.

 

[superpunk]

They get rid of Greg Olson a good pass catching tight end and then give free agent money to Bennett.

That's a smart bunch right there.

Not the same people is it?

 

[dbair1967]

They get rid of Greg Olson a good pass catching tight end and then give free agent money to Bennett.

That's a smart bunch right there.

Bennett is a better all around TE than Olson is, by quite a bit.

 

[Theebs]

Not the same people is it?

Good point, the front office has changed and the staff.

 

[Theebs]

Bennett is a better all around TE than Olson is, by quite a bit.

Ok. If u say so.

 

[junk]

I'll predict dbair's next post

<Well, I haven't really watched Greg Olson play, but Bennett is a superior player>

 

[dbair1967]

I'll predict dbair's next post

<Well, I haven't really watched Greg Olson play, but Bennett is a superior player>

I predict you will always be a ******

 

[dbair1967]

Olsen's been in the league 6yrs, almost all of that time spent as an everydown TE. In only two of those seasons he's produced more receptions than Bennett did last year in his first season ever as a #1 TE.

And Olsen isnt half the blocker Bennett is either.

Bennett is a knucklehead, but he isnt anywhere near the scrub some of you people seem to think he is.

 

[junk]

I predict you will always be a ******

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Not the same people is it?

Right, two words: Mike Martz.

 

[Cowboysrule122]

Bennett is a better all around TE than Olson is, by quite a bit.

That's not true...c'mon man.

 

[Cowboysrule122]

Bennett has played in 76 games, has 140 receptions with 1,472 yards and 9tds.

Olsen has played in 94 games, has 308 receptions with 3,364 yards and 30 tds.

Yeah, the Bears are fuckin' morons to have let Olsen go. They need to find the endzone and someone who can catch and stuff.

I'll give Bennett last year for having a decent year but he's no way better than Olsen. Laughable.

 

[dbair1967]

Bennett has played in 76 games, has 140 receptions with 1,472 yards and 9tds.

Olsen has played in 94 games, has 308 receptions with 3,364 yards and 30 tds.

Yeah, the Bears are fuckin' morons to have let Olsen go. They need to find the endzone and someone who can catch and stuff.

I'll give Bennett last year for having a decent year but he's no way better than Olsen. Laughable.

Olsen- career starter

Bennett, #2 most of his career behind HOF TE. Finally goes somewhere to start, and puts up numbers better than all of Olsen's years except two. On top of being a far better blocker.

Also, the Bears didnt release Olsen to sign Bennett. Olsen's been in Carolina the last two seasons, the Bears got rid of him in part because he stunk as a blocker.

 

[Cowboysrule122]

Olsen- career starter

Bennett, #2 most of his career behind HOF TE. Finally goes somewhere to start, and puts up numbers better than all of Olsen's years except two. On top of being a far better blocker.

Also, the Bears didnt release Olsen to sign Bennett. Olsen's been in Carolina the last two seasons, the Bears got rid of him in part because he stunk as a blocker.

So, now that Bennett's a starter you think he's better than Olsen? I'll give the edge to Bennett on blocking but that's about it. My point was they shouldn't of let Olsen go in the first place. I didn't say they released him for Bennett and I know he played for Carolina.

Puts up better numbers? Check those stats again.

 

[dbair1967]

Maybe you should check the stats again, I already had. But just for you:

Bennett- only yr as starter last year. 55 catches, over 600 yds and 5 tds

Olsen career- last year career high 69 catches. One other year with 60 catches. No other years with more than Bennett's 55 catches, and 3 of the years his catch totals were 39, 41 and 45.

It makes a difference if you start (or not). I know you seem to think it doesnt, but it does.

 

[Cowboysrule122]

Maybe you should check the stats again, I already had. But just for you:

Bennett- only yr as starter last year. 55 catches, over 600 yds and 5 tds

Olsen career- last year career high 69 catches. One other year with 60 catches. No other years with more than Bennett's 55 catches, and 3 of the years his catch totals were 39, 41 and 45.

It makes a different if you start (or not). I know you seem to think it doesnt, but it does.

We're talking Bears and Giants offenses here, dbair, and add in Carolina as well. He's played better in Carolina as a starter. Put Olsen on the Giants in that scenario and he would of crushed Bennett's stats from a year ago. I guess we better leave this discussion alone until Bennett has a few more starts under his belt.

If he makes it that long.

He still won't surpass Olsen as the better starter. Better blocker, yes.