Martellus Bennett gets to see how the other side of the Bears-Packers rivalry lives.
Nearly one year after the Chicago Bears traded Bennett to the New England Patriots, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Bennett will return to the NFC North, signing a deal with the Green Bay Packers. Meaning the former Bears tight end – who made his lone career Pro Bowl appearance when he caught 90 passes for 916 yards and six touchdowns in 2014 – will get a chance to show his former employers what they are missing out on twice a year.
That should be a frightening thought for Bears fans, especially considering the struggles the team had in the secondary in 2016.
Bennett’s single season in New England was as good as one could ask for from a player in a contract year. He caught 55 passes for 701 yards, hauled in a career-best 75.3 percent of balls thrown his way, and posted a 12.7 yards-per-catch average that was his best showing since playing for the 2013 Bears. Bennett also made the most of his first extended playoff look with 11 catches for 98 yards in three games, which was capped with a Super Bowl win.
Bennett’s departure likely spells the end of Jared Cook in a Packers uniform. Aaron Rodgers made a star of Cook in the playoffs as he caught 18 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns in three postseason games.