One Wednesday night NFL.com published an article based on reporting by NFL Network's Ian Rapopot, that Marcellus Bennett was going to test the free agent waters.
The Patriots want him back, because he played well in relief of injured Rob Gronkowski and was no problem in the clubhouse. They can't pay him more than Gronkowski, who is reportedly receiving 9 million and will be due for a raise next year.
It was reported that when the Pats traded for Bennett, in the last year of his contract, they offered him a contract at 7 million a year, which he declined. No details as to length, guaranteed money, or incentive money. There has been talk in Patriotland about Bennett taking a cut in pay. To that he responded on Twitter
Stop @’ing me about taking less money. You take less money at your job? All of you take a pay cut hahaha.
The contract he played out was said to be 20 million/4 years. The attached article highlights the major free agents. The draft is also supposed to be rich in tight ends.
Gronkowski is supposed to be back and healthy next season. If the Patriots hit free agency to get their second tight end, then the bottom might fall out of Bennett's market value and he might find himself doing worse than if he had stayed with the Pats. This happened to a number of Giants' free agents in the Reese era.
What about Bennett at 5 million for 3 or 4 years. He'll be 30 when next season starts, but he won't be an old man by the time his contract is up. He also has a very good injury history, missing not very many games. He can also block. At Dallas that was about all he was asked to do.
He would be a plug and play. Check off one offensive weak spot and move on to the next.
What about the other free agent tight ends? Sign a reasonably priced free agent and use a high draft choice for the tight end of the future. Hope that this upgrades the position enough.
NFL best free agent tight ends - (
New Window )
If we are gonna go after a TE it needs to be Jack Doyle. He's only 26 and has shined every time he's been given an opportunity. He's a guy who will probably get around 5 million a year. He was PFFs 15th rated TE & 14th rated blocking TE. If he played more snaps his rating would be higher. He only had 3 drops on 104 targets. He had a 79% catch rate which according to the article linked was the best of ANY WR or TE in the entire NFL.
Bennet's $7M/year offer was a blowfish - ( New Window )
He's a good athlete too.
He has proven that he can...
Not taking anything away from Gronks legacy...but his injury history makes him a bit long at the tooth...he has taken a beating.
The Pats may not have a choice but to pay Bennett...
Again...I put nothing past BB...
He's a good athlete too.
It was reported by Ian Rapoport who is one of the most plugged in NFL media members. He's broken more stories than anybody not named Adam Schefter. Here is his tweet about it.
It was reported by Ian Rapoport who is one of the most plugged in NFL media members. He's broken more stories than anybody not named Adam Schefter. Here is his tweet about it.
Quote:
@RapSheet: #Patriots TE Martellus Bennett is in for a big payday. He turned down a $7M per year offer before the season. Will resume talks after 2016.
Maybe I'm talking out my ass, I don't know. Let's see what Bennett gets on the open market. One thing I'll say is I hope the Giants want nothing to do with him. I much prefer Doyle.
Quote:
About Bennett turning down 7 million a year? That makes no sense. If it was a lie I'm sure at least one member of the NFL media would have said it was false. He knew he was going to be the best TE on the market coming off of a season playing with Tom Brady. He bet on himself and most likely it's going to pay off.
It was reported by Ian Rapoport who is one of the most plugged in NFL media members. He's broken more stories than anybody not named Adam Schefter. Here is his tweet about it.
Quote:
@RapSheet: #Patriots TE Martellus Bennett is in for a big payday. He turned down a $7M per year offer before the season. Will resume talks after 2016.
It just doesn't ring true to me. As for why would anybody lie? They would lie to make it appear that Belichick valued Bennett at $7M/year. Rapaport doesn't give his source as far as I know. Maybe it was Bennett himself or Bennett's agent. Do you think it was someone in Patriots management who leaked it to Rapaport?
Maybe I'm talking out my ass, I don't know. Let's see what Bennett gets on the open market. One thing I'll say is I hope the Giants want nothing to do with him. I much prefer Doyle.
Would you be fine with Doyle, Adams, Tye, and LaCosse being our TEs going into camp? i.e. no draft picks, just Doyle?
Would you be fine with Doyle, Adams, Tye, and LaCosse being our TEs going into camp? i.e. no draft picks, just Doyle?
Quote:
Would you be fine with Doyle, Adams, Tye, and LaCosse being our TEs going into camp? i.e. no draft picks, just Doyle?
I would be, but I wouldn't be opposed to adding a late round TE as well if the value was there (i.e., Saubert or Roberts or someone they really like on day three).
So are you very anti-TE for an early round pick or is that contingent on signing Doyle?
So are you very anti-TE for an early round pick or is that contingent on signing Doyle?
If the Pats lose interest in Bennett, then he might have the rug pulled out from under him if looking for 6 or 7 million. NFL players can really screw themselves when they start to get cocky.
Below is a pretty definitive article on Bennett and the Patriots this offseason. Bennett is supposed to like the bright lights of media cities, which is definitely New York.
Also if Bennett signs back with the Patriots and Gronkowski stays healthy, then Bennett is just the second string tight end again, like when he was second fiddle to Witten in Dallas.
New England fans seem proud that the Pats don't go bananas and overpay players. A lot of people here feel the same way. To me, if you have to overpay to fill a big hole in your offense, then do it, especially if you have the cap space.
When I think about the 2011 season, I smile and think about the great plays starting with Cruz' hundred yard TD. I don't get pissed off because Antrel Rolle and Osi Umenyiora were overpaid.
“Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”
And you have to be good and lucky to draft the guy for this year. It's not easy. You have to find someone with the talent, and then with the experience.
Will Bennett re-sign with Patriots? - ( New Window )
Jerry probably wishes he had outbid the Bears, since we have had nothing but problems at TE since.
Bennett's caught 50 or more passes the last five years, caught 90 one year in Chicago, He's been sound, injury-wise. He must have behaved pretty well in New England if Belichick wants him back.
And, like rflairr says, he's a better blocker than receiver. Can we use a blocking tight end or what?
good size, right age and lock room guy
sounds like a Giant
Born: May 5, 1990 (age 26 years), Indianapolis, IN
Height: 6′ 6″
Weight: 267 lbs
59 balls, 5 TDs
All substance, no splash: Jack Doyle's rise with Colts - ( New Window )
The Colts have many needs, especially on defense. They say they want to keep Doyle, but if they can only offer him four or five million, probably not enough.
The current rate for quality starting tight ends appears to be about 7 million a year right now. Can the Colts have 12 to 14 million invested in tight end? Don't think so.
Doyle would not be cheap, though. His agent would probably start at about that 7 million mark that other quality starting TEs are getting. The Giants might start at 5 million for his lack of experience and guarantee increases as earned. If there's other interest, 7 million.
Worth it? Could solve TE problem for years. Team can look at him as the tight end of the now and future. Bennett would be a "Win Now" stopgap.
there are two places where this can happen
LA and NYC
so I would suspect Bennett would take a discount to be in either one of these cities
SB 42 and 46 and ? : 2/24/2017 11:41 pm : link : reply
wants too much money. Cook played at Green Bay on only a one year 2.75 million contract.
Also if Bennett signs back with the Patriots and Gronkowski stays healthy, then Bennett is just the second string tight end again, like when he was second fiddle to Witten in Dallas.
If you watched the Pats at all when Gronk was healthy, the Pats ran a lot of two TE sets with both of them....both are great blockers, and because of that teams has to play tight to the line for a run play.....Brady would read the defense, and audible out of his run play to a pass, to either TE that was open.....it was nothing like the Witten situation in Dallas....
But when it comes to football, he's a hired gun, not a team player, and I'm just not interested. Of the three F's (fame, fortune, and football), guess which two are most important to him. So whereas I can't see my sister Roslyn doing any better than him, I think the Giants can.
p.s.-- It occurs to me that the $7M/year extension he was offered by the Patriots last year could've easily been just a tool to lower his $5M cap hit in 2016 and didn't carry any guarantees beyond 2016. The average salary in a fluffed up contract can be very misleading. If anyone recalls the contract the Giants gave Brandon Myers, they know what I'm talking about. It was a one-year deal masquerading as a five year deal for cap reasons.
SB 42 and 46 and ? : 2/24/2017 11:41 pm : link : reply
wants too much money. Cook played at Green Bay on only a one year 2.75 million contract.
Also if Bennett signs back with the Patriots and Gronkowski stays healthy, then Bennett is just the second string tight end again, like when he was second fiddle to Witten in Dallas.
If you watched the Pats at all when Gronk was healthy, the Pats ran a lot of two TE sets with both of them....both are great blockers, and because of that teams has to play tight to the line for a run play.....Brady would read the defense, and audible out of his run play to a pass, to either TE that was open.....it was nothing like the Witten situation in Dallas....
Not quite sure what you disagree with. Pats just signed Gronk to a a 6 year, 54 million contract. Only 13 million is guaranteed, but everyone will say that Gronk is getting 9 million a year.
I know the Pats used the double tight end with Hernandez, until Hernandez turned out to be a killer. So Bennett takes Hernandez' place, but he's still No. 2 TE with less snaps. Do the Pats give him his 7 million?
I didn't make that up about Cook, who would be a lot cheaper. Froma Patriots' online newsletter:
Green Bay Packers tight end Jared Cook is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March and the New England Patriots should be the first in line to bring him on board. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Cook would be the perfect replacement if Martellus Bennett signs elsewhere.
The New England Patriots have said resigning Bennett this offseason is a priority, however, it’s unlikely the team is going to be able to keep the tight end. Even though Bennett appeared to fit in nicely in New England, he’s going to command a lot on the market, especially after his impressive 2016 season in which he put up 701 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. With that kind of productivity, another team is going to pay him a lot of money.
So Pats get a younger and cheaper 2nd tight end and Bennett, who's better but older, and Bennett looks for his seven million elsewhere. Bennett would be a "Win Now" guy for the Giants with no more than 3 years guaranteed.
Doyle would be a good sign too. Not as good as Bennett as a blocker but he's younger and a good locker room guy.