Martellus Bennett was just traded to the New England Patriots. What is he going to do next? Stay at Disneyland.
The tight end was at the happiest place on earth with his daughter when he found out he was traded from the Chicago Bears to the Patriots for an exchange of draft picks.
“I’ve been in California training, living life in the sun,” Bennett said Thursday on a conference call. “My wife’s getting tan and things like that. Hanging out with my daughter, took my daughter to Disneyland. I was just living life, got the call and making moves. Now I’m back to living life again.”
Bennett is ultra-talented and combines with fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski, wide receivers Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Chris Hogan, and running back Dion Lewis to give Patriots quarterback Tom Brady his best set of offensive weapons in years. Bennett has one year remaining on his contract, and it will be interesting to see how he fits in with his new team. He was asked what went wrong between him and the Bears, and he gave a very un-Patriot-like response.
“I don’t think it didn’t work out in Chicago,” Bennett said. “I thought I played very well in Chicago. I put up great numbers, did some great things, made my first Pro Bowl there. I mean, statistically, I thought it was a great job.”
Bennett’s not wrong. He was fantastic with the Bears, catching 208 passes for 2,114 yards with 14 touchdowns in 43 games. He earned his Pro Bowl nod in 2014, when he caught 90 passes for 916 yards with six touchdowns. The Patriots have looked for another tight end to pair with and serve as insurance for Gronkowski since 2013, and they’ve had trouble finding a fit. Both Tim Wright and Scott Chandler were cut after just one season with the Patriots. Bennett has much higher upside than either of those players.
His eccentric personality certainly will be welcomed in the New England locker room — at least by the media.
“I knew it was a possibility, so I just didn’t know where or when or how it was going to happen,” Bennett said about being traded. “I knew it was the possibility was coming. Just like any other thing in life, you prepare to make sure you flow where the wind goes, try to be a dandelion.”
The new tight end delivered another non sequitur when asked how his ribs are feeling after being placed on injured reserve by the Bears in December.
“I’m healthy,” Bennett said. “I prefer my ribs barbecued.”
Thumbnail photo via Jake Roth/USA TODAY Sports Images
