My opinion: Martellus Bennett and Sam Bradford should treasure the 2016-2017 season

You know, these two men are having the best seasons of their careers hands down and both are finally on teams that you can make an argument as of the end of this week on why they could be massive Super Bowl contenders. Before this season, Sam Bradford never seemed like a man who had a legit chance to play in a Superbowl or at least make a deep playoff run. Bennett has always been good, but was on Chicago's roster. After years of practically nothing, both men hit the jackpot. Sam isn't perfect, but you can't argue with 5-0 and how dangerous they've played so far. Bennett has said he is having fun again and had his first three touchdown game. You never know what could happen next year, so both men should enjoy the potential highlight years of their careers. Superbowl or not, this has been the and will be the season they remember most if next year doesn't go well.

Everyone has fun : but then someone offers money.

Lots of people on this site will tell you that "everyone would take the money" if they are being honest. I'm not one of those people. I enjoy my job & I prioritize "liking every day and sleeping well at night" to a few extra bucks.

So, who are Marty & Bradford ? Money first or happy first ? We'll see. Obviously, both teams (NE/MiN) have other considerations : NE has lotsa people to pay & MIN has a young, highly regarded QB returning.... time will tell. But, we can't assume everyone puts importance on the same things we do.

I think we were all pretty excited for what Bennett would bring to the field. But I for one never imagined the guy would be such a revelation off of it. Playing his tail off, playing selflessly, blocking, working hard with Gronk, and then he goes down yesterday, but gets up and has a terrific game...then this quote:

“Aw, man. You know, [expletive] hurts,” Bennett said. “You know, you lay down for a second, you feel sorry for yourself and then you think about all the people who are counting on you, on the field, off the field, and then you just try to find a way to suck it up and go out there and play for those guys, and that’s what it’s really about.”

I mean, jeez, what's not to love? Here's to a great season and hopefully many more after that.

Bradford is on a two year deal so the Vikings are good in that regard. I think the Patriots pay Bennett since this team puts a premium on trying to have two really talented tight ends. And unlike the prisoner, Bennett is a a top notch run blocker.

My fear is every TD, every spectacular play, every great block just raises his premium. He could be too much for the Pats to afford with all the other guys in line for deals. We'll see how it plays out. But I would love a Gronk/Bennett pairing for a few more years if they can find a way to make it work.

bennett's ****ing awesome. we have to give him a new contract!!

PatsBoy12 said:

My fear is every TD, every spectacular play, every great block just raises his premium. He could be too much for the Pats to afford with all the other guys in line for deals. We'll see how it plays out. But I would love a Gronk/Bennett pairing for a few more years if they can find a way to make it work.

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I understand Bennett's price going up, but this is the first place he has really thrived, and teams will consider that before breaking the bank for him, plus he was disruptive in Chicago, and he may not thrive in toxic environments like Chicago was.

In the end , I am hoping the Pats make a good, but not maximum value offer, and Bennett will take the deal and be part of something special where he can be happy.

If Josh leaves you know who he is recruiting as his new tightend.
This would be the biggest threat to lose Marty in my opinion.
But ultimately I think he stays if money is close.

What exactly did Marty do in Chicago and elsewhere that gave him a bad rep? Seems like a great dude...

Froob said:

What exactly did Marty do in Chicago and elsewhere that gave him a bad rep? Seems like a great dude...

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I know in Chicago, I have read read reports of him mocking the coaching staff, and it seems he did not respect them. He originally was in Dallas, Jerruh Jones, nuff said.

He also played for the Giants too and didn't put up big numbers.

The Gr8est said:

I understand Bennett's price going up, but this is the first place he has really thrived, and teams will consider that before breaking the bank for him, plus he was disruptive in Chicago, and he may not thrive in toxic environments like Chicago was.

In the end , I am hoping the Pats make a good, but not maximum value offer, and Bennett will take the deal and be part of something special where he can be happy.

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Hey Gr8est, I appreciate your post, man. I just don't understand what you mean by "teams will consider that before breaking the bank for him," especially if he has a good to great season. Teams ABSOLUTELY will break the bank for him if that happens. This is a league where you can beat the sh*t out of your significant other, get drunk or high, be a locker room cancer, etc., but if you can play the game really well and help a team win, they will pay you. Terrell Owens did it his whole career. He's just one name in a long list. The league has not changed and never will in that regard. So I guess I have to disagree.

I'm not saying the Pats won't try to keep him. It will come down to how much value they place on Bennett vs. how much value Bennett places on himself. There are always two components to negotiations - the team and player. Both obviously have to be willing to "play ball" for a deal to get done. Revis loved being here too. He even said it was the best secondary he had ever been a part of . . . and then he bolted. I know it's a different player and situation, but the allegory here remains true. Money speaks loudest of all in sports and if a team approaches Bennett with an offer he can't refuse, he won't (IMO). He'll go for it. You only get one or two big contracts in the NFL and, as such, you almost have to take it when it presents itself. We know NE won't overpay him, especially when they have a lot of more crucial guys coming up for contracts . . . guys with which they've won SB's. I think they'll prioritize this way.
I want Bennett here if the first four weeks is any indication of what he can be in this offense as a blocker and pass catcher. The Gronk/Hernandez years were so fun to watch and I think Gronk/Bennett can be that with the added bonus of Bennett's blocking. We'll see what happens.

Froob said:

What exactly did Marty do in Chicago and elsewhere that gave him a bad rep? Seems like a great dude...

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He played with Cutler. Need I say more ?

The Gr8est said:

I know in Chicago, I have read read reports of him mocking the coaching staff, and it seems he did not respect them. He originally was in Dallas, Jerruh Jones, nuff said.

He also played for the Giants too and didn't put up big numbers.

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Hopefully he'll get the Blount effect where nobody else will take him because he can't behave elsewhere and we can get him back cheap.

Or maybe he'll see that the grass isn't always greener.. After all, didn't he tweet that his mother is happy that they are finally using him as a player the way they are supposed to?? And that was before yesterday's 3TD...Have BB get the mother on the phone when ti comes time to resign him.....

Bennet doesn't need a big contract. He's a published author!

To be a bit more serious, winning cures a lot of ills. But then again, maybe the Bears and Giants just weren't a good match. Maybe he matured enough to know that he's got something great here, and if so, there's a decent chance he'll be back.

While he likes to joke around, he has to know that he has a limited time to make some serious money. Having said that he *seems* relatively care free, in that mentality of "I already have a lot of cash, now I want to play, have fun, win, and maybe get a ring or two." We can only hope!

The franchise tag was low last year for Tight Ends...only $9,1M. The Transition tag was even less at $7.6M.
So even with a little increase there is some leverage there just in case he explodes.

I suspect there there is only one other player who would be worthy of our franchise tag next year and that's Collins. The only problem is that the tag is very high for linebackers....$14.0M last year and probably close to $15M this year.

The other (possible) effect is the "sure, produced for the Patriots" effect.

Guys who can DO THEIR JOB in a team-oriented environment (oh yeah, and sporting the GOAT QB) might not be quite as productive in their environment. The track records of much-beloved contributors on Pats teams past could bolster this impression.

I actually have to get some work done today, so I won't go researching this... but who's been a real standout after leaving here? I am sure I am forgetting some of the greats of the game... I guess Vinatieri counts (he especially comes to mind this season, with Ghost struggling for some reason). But otherwise I think of Randy Moss becoming cold product after leaving the Pats, the early Super Bowl exodus players who left falling down into mediocrity, etc. (Givens - I just don't remember a great season with the flaming thumbtacks... isn't that where he went? I forget). When was Cassel's last 11-5 season? Exactly.

Like I said, I have some work to do today so can't prove the case... you guys chew it up from both sides.

But the basic premise is that BB gets the very best out of each player's capabilities... that's not MY basic premise, I think it's conventional wisdom in the league. He gives players roles that aren't too big for them, and having TFB behind center makes it all work (on offense at least.) Distractions are minimized and you get an environment where you can see only how a player produces in a very well-organized, well-coached environment (and one where the Ring is a constant incentive).

One Ring to rule them all, etc. Well, maybe 4... or 5...

So if you're evaluating talent elsewhere you have all of that to weigh: Production of player as a Patriot vs. production of player before/after Patriots. What kind of hit does a player's production take, on average, after leaving Foxborough?

That said, any such effect can always be cancelled by ego (Hey I'm just as good at this as Belichick...)

PS I know Bennett was productive for the Bears... the point is, a monster step up with the Patriots from an already productive plateau might be ascribed to the Patriots Effect

Teams broke the bank for Mark Anderson. So yeah, teams will break the bank for Marty Bennett. He'd have to temper his contract expectations if he wants to stay.

nabwong said:

Teams broke the bank for Mark Anderson. So yeah, teams will break the bank for Marty Bennett. He'd have to temper his contract expectations if he wants to stay.

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I think BB knew Anderson wasn't worth the money someone else would give him. It remains to be seen if that is the case with Bennett.

We all know BB has been enamored with the two TE offense for a long time, and getting a TE who is equivalent to Bennett is more difficult to find than DEs like Anderson.