Patriots Release Martellus Bennett

It might not be the biggest news since the Resurrection that the Pats waived a guy who played 24 snaps for them in 2017 and saved themselves an immediate $2 million roster bonus in the process. I mean, they cut Alan Branch and no one cared because he’s an underachiever whose effort was questionable. Even by me. And I used to work for the state. And yet I’m sitting here really conflicted about the Patriots moving on from Martellus Bennett for the second time in the last year.

On the one hand, I’m disappointed because Bennett is a colorful, bizarre crackpot who stands out on a roster filled with conformists. The kind of guy who craves attention in a way that makes eyes roll all over the locker room. But in the harmless way, non-team-killing way of a genuine character who’s just trying to be entertaining. More importantly, I was hoping we’d finally get to see the true 2-tight end offense Josh McDaniels has been wet dreaming about since Aaron Murdnandez went away. Clearly Dwayne Allen doesn’t have Brady’s confidence and won’t be anything more than a blocking TE as long as he’s here. Michael Hoomanawanui 2.0.

But here’s where the conflictedness comes in. Because I have to think that if the Patriots felt there was even a reasonable chance Rob Gronkowski would be slamming heads into turnbuckles in the Fall, then they don’t make this move now. I’ll concede that there are plenty of tight end options on the open market, but they’re all either prohibitively expensive (Jimmy Graham), ancient (Antonio Gates) or not appreciably better options than Bennett (Zach Miller, Lee Smith, Tyler Eifert) but will be more expensive. And none has familiarity with the team, the system and the quarterback.

I admit I’m reading Tarot cards here in order to communicate with spirits that aren’t talking to anyone right now. But still I’m taking this as a sign that the situation with Gronk isn’t as desperate as it appears from the outside. But with free agency just a few days away it would be great if someone would say something. But until then, every tight end they release makes Gronk’s return more and more likely.

 @jerrythornton1

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