Martellus Bennett

At 37 years old, Martellus Bennett has this physical status:

Martellus Demond Bennett (born March 10, 1987) is a former American football tight end and children's author.

The Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft after playing college football at Texas A&M.

Bennett also played in the NFL for the New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots.

He won Super Bowl LI with the Patriots over the Atlanta Falcons.

He is the younger brother of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Michael Bennett.

Early years

Martellus Bennett played football and basketball at Alief Taylor High School in Houston, Texas. He was a three-year starter and two-time All-District and All-Greater Houston selection at tight end. As a sophomore, he averaged 12.4 yards per catch. During his junior year, he grabbed 13 catches for 170 yards and two touchdowns. In his senior year, he caught a team-high of 42 catches for 487 yards and six touchdowns, earning first-team Class 5A all-state honors from the Texas Sports Writers Association. He also averaged 23 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a senior in basketball. He played in the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

As a college football prospect in his senior year of high school, Bennett was a five-star recruit, ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 1 tight end and No. 8 best player in the 2005 prospect class. He was recruited by Texas A&M, Duke, Kansas, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma, and Texas. Although originally committed to play for Miami, he chose to sign a National Letter of Intent to play for Texas A&M.

Bennett also had interest in playing professional basketball. So, after his senior season Bennett decided to declare for the 2005 NBA Draft. He did not hire an agent though, intending to go to college if he was not selected in the first round. NBA scouts informed him that it was unlikely he would, causing him to withdraw from the draft a few days prior. As a result, he decided to enroll in classes in the second summer session at Texas A&M.

Personal life

Bennett is the younger brother of former NFL defensive end Michael Bennett. He is also a friend of former Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett. After Everett's career-ending neck injury in 2007, Bennett chose to honor Everett by wearing his jersey number for two games during his 2007 junior season at Texas A&M.

He is also known for his sense of humor. As a Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter put it, Bennett "had more memorable quotes than memorable catches at Texas A&M". After being drafted by the Cowboys, Bennett stated, when referring to incumbent quarterback Tony Romo: "Any quarterback that can get Jessica Simpson, I’ve got to play with him". The Cowboys addressed his comment shortly afterwards. During an interview at the NFL combine, when asked about his interest in both basketball and football, he responded: "Football is my wife and basketball is my mistress".

In January 2009, Bennett was fined $22,000 for an explicit rap song he posted on YouTube.

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College career

He had 18 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns in his freshman season at Texas A&M University. After making 38 catches for 497 yards and three touchdowns in his sophomore season, he was named one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, which is given annually to the nation's top tight end. He had a career-high of 133 yards and two touchdowns on five catches against Baylor on October 28, 2006. After the game, he was named the Mackey Award Player of the Week. He made his sophomore season with All-Big 12 Second-Team honors. He made 49 receptions for 587 yards and four touchdowns in his junior season. Bennett's junior season, an NFL committee told Bennett that he would be a first or second-round pick in the NFL Draft, so Bennett decided against his senior season and declare early for the draft.

Bennett completed 105 passes for 1,246 yards and ten touchdowns in his three seasons at Texas A&M University. His 105 receptions tied for the fewest receptions by a close end. He only averaged 34.6 yards per game, though many felt that Dennis Franchione, the head coach who played a run-oriented offense, did not properly use his abilities. Bennett recorded "Throw Me the Ball, Coach" during his sophomore season and mixed a remix with his teammates. Michael Bennett, a student at Texas A&M, competed with his brother Michael Bennett from 2006-2008.

Bennett played basketball for Texas A&M for two seasons under head coach Billy Gillispie, but in January 2007, Bennett decided to concentrate on football. He made the first Texas A&M athlete to letter in both basketball and football in 2005-06, his first since 1969. He appeared in 26 games in his freshman year, averaging 1.9 points and 1.5 rebounds. He averaged 0.5 points and 0.5 rebounds in his sophomore season before opting for football.

Professional career

Bennett finished in 4.68 seconds at the 2008 NFL Scout Combine, ranking seventh out of the eight tight ends in his division. He came in third place in the vertical jump (34 inches) and fifth in the broad jump (9–9). On April 17-28, 2008, he was welcomed along with 30 other prospects to the Dallas Cowboys' Valley Ranch headquarters for a predraft visit.

An Associated Press sportswriter criticized Bennett's playing abilities a week before the draft: "Played basketball for the Aggies as well as the ability to be a good red-zone target." He isn't a big threat because of his speed, but once he improves his routes, his stamina and size will make him a good asset. Zone recognition must also be enhanced. "Good, adamant blocker."

The Cowboys selected Bennett in the second round (61st overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft after trading former second-round draft pick Anthony Fasano. Bennett was chosen not because they wanted a back-up tight end but rather to "add a new dimension" by being part of a two-tight-end crime, according to Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones. Bennett learned his technique from tight end Jason Witten in the 2008 preseason. The documentary film Hard Knocks first portrayed Martellus as a lazy and unmotivated participant in the preseason camps. Although Bennett was initially having trouble understanding the Cowboys' offense, later episodes of Hard Knocks revealed that he continued to improve.

On July 24, he committed to a four-year deal with the team. He was given the number-two close end over Tony Curtis. Brad Johnson's first career touchdown was scored on a 34-yard pass against the St. Louis Rams in Week 7. He had 20 receptions for 283 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie season.

The Cincinnati Bengals offered Bennett a prospective first-round draft pick in exchange for Bennett before the start of his second season, but the Cowboys declined. In 2009, he regressed as a receiver, collecting only 15 catches for 159 yards and no touchdowns.

Jerry Jones said in a January 2010 news conference following Bennett's breakout success, he needed to put in the effort to achieve it. However, it was also apprehension that he was being pushed in preseason for John Phillips' backup job until Phillips was forced to leave the season due to an ACL tear. Bennett had a career-high 33 catches in 2010, but not for 260 yards nor no touchdowns.

He often brought attention to himself by making controversial statements and YouTube videos during his Cowboy days. With his "Black Olympics" video or radio interview, he said backup quarterback Jon Kitna deserved a shot at playing for the starting job after filling in for the injured Tony Romo during the 2010 season. In 2011, he had an injury-plagued preseason, with an injured hamstring and right leg strain, effectively keeping him out of two of four preseason games and two regular-season games, totaling 17 catches for 144 yards and no touchdowns.

Although he never fully understand his playing ability as Witten's second-string tight end, he did a good job as an excellent blocker. The Cowboys gave him a similar free agent contract as the one he received from the New York Giants before the 2012 season, but they wanted to leave Dallas to have the opportunity to begin.

He committed to the Giants one-year, $2.5 million deal on March 14, 2012. When asked about his health during an interview, he responded: "I'm fitter than I've ever been." I could run all day. I'm kind of like a black unicorn out there. He maintained his weight in the regular season. He made his first touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys, his former team, in the season opener. In his lone season with the Giants, he had 526 yards and five touchdowns while dealing with various injuries.

Bennett signed a four-year contract with the Chicago Bears on March 12, 2012. Bennett was the first multi-touchdown game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2. He ended the 2013 season with a career-high 65 receptions and 759 yards. The 65 receptions were tied for eighth in the league's tightest moments, with Mike Ditka's tagging career ranking in 1964. Bennett was also ranked ninth in yards among tight ends, with 759 yards tied for ninth in yards, while Bennett was tied for 12th in touchdowns among tight ends.

Bennett was suspended by the team after slamming teammate Kyle Fuller had violently grabbed him by the helmet on August 5. Bennett was reinstated on August 10. In Week 4, against the Green Bay Packers, he had a career-high 134 yards against them. Bennett caught his 77th catch of the year in Week 14 against the Dallas Cowboys, defeating Mike Ditka for the most receptions by a close finish in Bears history. He had a career-high 12 receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown in the same game. He had 90 receptions for 916 yards and six touchdowns on the season, finishing with 90 receptions for 916 yards and six touchdowns. Bennett was called to the 2015 Pro Bowl on January 19, 2015, replacing New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Bennett was held out during the team's voluntary offseason program in the case of a labour lockout, but he went to minicamp to avoid potential fines. During Week 11's matchup against the Denver Broncos, Bennett suffered his ribs on November 22, the Denver Broncos broke his ribs. On November 24, 2015, Bennett was "limited" in operation. Bennett was suspended from week 12's matchup against the Green Bay Packers, according to the Bears on November 25. He returned to action in the overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers but had to leave the field after being hit in the third quarter and exacerbating the injury before returning to finish the game. He was initially placed on the injured reserve list on December 9, which was a surprise. He was leading the team with 53 receptions at the time, but the team only had 439 receiving yards at 439 yards (ranked third on the team).

Bennett's friendship with his colleagues, coaches, and general manager deteriorated through the 2015 season. Bennett expressed disappointment with his time with the Bears. In an interview with ESPN The Magazine, he openly criticized Jay Cutler's on-field play, saying, "I'd be clear and he'd throw into double coverage." In an interview with E:60, he later mocked his ex-coworkers' morale and work ethic by referring them "a bunch of bits."

"Marty never brought for me was so smart, and he asks a lot of good questions," Bennett's former offensive coordinator in Chicago, Adam Gase.

Bennett was traded in the 2016 NFL Draft along with a sixth-round draft pick (#204-Jordan Lucas) in exchange for a fourth-round pick (#127-Deiondre' Hall) in the 2016 NFL Draft. The Patriots were attempting to resurrect the glory they had with the Rob Gronkowski-Aaron Hernandez tandem in 2011 and 2012.

Bennett had 21 receptions for 314 yards and four touchdowns, including a three-touchdown effort in Tom Brady's return against the Cleveland Browns in Week 5.

Bennett was the Patriots No. 2 after Gronkowski was put on the injured reserve list in early December. 1st tight end. He played in all 16 games, receiving 55 receptions for 701 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns. His 397 yards after the catch were ranked No. No. 397 yards after the catch was ranked No. 1. In 2016, two of the NFL's tightest seasons came to an end. During the season, he was forced to play hurt, while fighting ankle and shoulder injuries, which required him to perform offseason ankle surgery to fix a cracked bone.

In the Patriots' Divisional Round victory over the Houston Texans, he injured his left knee in the fourth quarter, which will be his second injury he'll have to deal with until the playoffs.

Bennett was a member of the Patriots team that won Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017. The Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons by a margin of 34–28 in overtime, with five catches for 62 yards. In overtime, he made a pass interference call in the end zone, giving the Patriots the ball at the two-yard line and setting up James White's touchdown run two plays later. In the third quarter, the Patriots had trailed 28–3 but they rallied to win the game. The game was the first overtime and the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history.

Bennett signed with the Green Bay Packers on a three-year, $21 million contract after the team was unable to reach an agreement with Jared Cook, who left for the Oakland Raiders, on March 10, 2017. Bennett had three receptions for 43 yards on his Packers debut in a 17–9 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on September 10. On November 8, 2017, the Packers cut him off due to a refusal to announce a medical condition diagnosis.

Bennett was billed off waivers by the New England Patriots on November 9, 2017. Bennett was diagnosed with tears in both the rotator cuff and labrum in his shoulder on November 10, just a day after being told, requiring Bennett to pass a physical before he could legally join the team. Bennett said the Packers had lied about his inability to reveal the injuries and was active against the Denver Broncos on November 12. Bennett was inserted on sick reserve on November 27, 2017 due to shoulder and hamstring injuries. Bennett was a member of Super Bowl LIII, but the Patriots lost 41-33 to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Bennett was activated by the Patriots on March 7, 2018.

Bennett resigned from football on March 23, 2018 to focus on his multimedia production firm.

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