Trying To Understand the Whole Bizarro World Martellus Bennett Packers Situation
So yesterday I’m on the way home when this bombshell gets dropped. Martellus Bennett was released by Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers. Just a week ago there were odd rumors of Bennett retiring after the season which you took with a grain of salt because anything out of Marty B’s mouth is utter randomness.
One day he wants to retire, next day he wants to play 10 more seasons. Bennett hasn’t played since October 22nd against the Saints, a game that was followed by the bye week. During the bye week a shoulder injury mysteriously popped up on the injury report for the first time all season. Bennett was ruled out of the Monday Night Football game against the Lions this past week this past week and then yesterday they ruled him out once again for this week’s upcoming game against the Bears.
That news was soon followed by the bombshell releasing news. It all happened so quick and so rash that something crazy had to have been going on behind the scenes.
The easiest explanation for all of this is that Marty came to Green Bay to contend for a Super Bowl as he neared the end of this career. Obviously Aaron Rodgers breaking his collarbone mid-season wasn’t in the cards and all of a sudden the chances of even reaching the playoffs became bleak. So from my understanding Marty came out with the retirement threat to try and get traded to a contender instead of being stuck in this nightmare waste of a season in Green Bay. Now because they didn’t grant him his wish he made up this injury and refused to play, thus quitting on his guys. None of that is official, but it’s basically what I’ve been reading and putting together. So now Green Bay has cut the tight end and plans to go after all the money they paid out to him this year. Bennett had two years left on his three year deal after 2017 so this comes as a big shock considering they hoped to have him around for quite some time. Bringing Bennett over from New England was seen as a big, surprising add by the usually boring Ted Thompson. Rodgers hadn’t had a reliable, big threat tight end since the Jermichael Finley days, but from the start it was a disaster. Marty had literal stones for hands. As much as Rodgers tried to incorporate him into the offense it never really showed, failing to amass over 53 yards in any contest. It’s ironic as fuck that on the play Rodgers got drilled by Anthony Barr, Bennett also dropped the pass.
It’s hilarious this happens to Ted Thompson after one of the rare times he goes out into the market and gets a big name. Ted is always so dependent on the NFL Draft when it comes to improving his team. Now after this debacle I doubt he ever looks into free agency again. Do I blame Marty Bennett for wanting a real shot at contending this year? Nope, not at all cause he’s 30 years old and has only a few more seasons left at best, but quitting on your team is fucked. The Packers had 4 wins and who knows, maybe Bennett could’ve been a much-needed safety blanket over the middle for Hundley on Monday? Maybe not. I don’t know, it’s just a weird fucking move to quit on your guys like that and I hope the Pack are able to get all the money they paid to him back because fuck all of this.
P.S. He’ll probably be suiting up for the Pats in Denver Sunday Night because classic Belichick .
PPS. I wrote this a couple hours ago. Wouldn’t you know it: