Martellus Bennett : [UPDATE: Placed on IR]

[Bradyking12]

You may be right about Allen. The thing that sticks in my mind is that Brady threw to him again after the first TD drop. Brady wanted him to get one which is a good sign. Plus all of his teammates celebrating with him. Hopefully more to come.

If Allen continues to build Gronk/Bennett/Allen talk about a potential 3 headed monster at the tight end position

 

[Kdo5]

Not really buying what Marty is trying to sell regarding the entire situation but I don't really care because it benefits us. He was very good for us last year and bought in. I'm confident he can be productive option for us again down the stretch.

Thrilled to have him back.

 

[PatsFan2]

I don't disagree that MB made a definite impact (perfect timing based upon the gameplan) and love that he is back (though I am wincing every time he got hit or tackled -- hopefully the shoulder is not that dramatically bad). But to be fair to Denver, I watched one play where MB was lined up at the right TE spot. Play action went completely right while MB took two steps forward then ran directly left like a man all by himself on a deserted island. I laughed and thought 'I think Denver has no idea MB actually plays for the Patriots'.

Denver played Marty and Green Bay in the preseason so someone on that Denver D probably had a brain fart. They were probably like...what the?? Didn't I??

 

[Deus Irae]

Sad day for the 31 other NFL teams and fan bases

On an NFL media conference call today, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe asked league spokesman Joe Lockhart if there are any tampering issues surrounding the Patriots and Bennett. Lockhart’s answer was an emphatic, “No.”

NFL sees no evidence of Patriots tampering with Martellus Bennett

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Sad day for the 31 other NFL teams and fan bases



NFL sees no evidence of Patriots tampering with Martellus Bennett

What a surprise - Volin digging with the NFL to try to find the Patriots causing trouble. Like his "digging in" via google with Kraft foods. Would be nice if he did that type of digging in to vilify the Wells Report, etc. instead of just being a bumbling fool about it until jumping on the train when others pointed out the problems.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

How could claiming a guy off waivers be tampering? If he was too hurt to play, he doesn't pass the physical and your off the hook for his salary. Is Violin saying that somehow the Pats talked Bennett into telling GB that he wanted to have surgery, knowing full well that GB would cut him?

So know BB can also predict the future and knows the other 31 clubs so well that he can correctly predict how they will handle a contract situation?

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

They better not see any tampering! It would be hypocritical considering how the jests go away with tampering with revis!

 

[FalconHeavy]

What a surprise - Volin digging with the NFL to try to find the Patriots causing trouble. Like his "digging in" via google with Kraft foods. Would be nice if he did that type of digging in to vilify the Wells Report, etc. instead of just being a bumbling fool about it until jumping on the train when others pointed out the problems.

he is a bumbling fool and a butt hurt lolphins fan.. so ..

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

kudos to this guy....

whywerule says:
November 14, 2017 at 2:55 pm


…On an NFL media conference call today, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe asked league spokesman Joe Lockhart if there are any tampering issues surrounding the Patriots and Bennett….
—————————————————–

Were Dan Shaughnessy and Ron Borges unavailable to ask that question?

 

[Koma]

How could claiming a guy off waivers be tampering? If he was too hurt to play, he doesn't pass the physical and your off the hook for his salary. Is Violin saying that somehow the Pats talked Bennett into telling GB that he wanted to have surgery, knowing full well that GB would cut him?

So know BB can also predict the future and knows the other 31 clubs so well that he can correctly predict how they will handle a contract situation?

It's just like when the Patriots convinced LeGarrette Blount to sulk for a couple games when he was in Pittsburgh. They knew that the Steelers would cut him, instead of just benching him or putting him on the inactive list. They further knew that that none of the other teams in the league, including the ones who needed a running back, would claim him off waivers.

There are people out there who believe that this is how the Blount and Bennett scenarios really went down.

 

[PatsDeb]

It's just like when the Patriots convinced LeGarrette Blount to sulk for a couple games when he was in Pittsburgh. They knew that the Steelers would cut him, instead of just benching him or putting him on the inactive list. They further knew that that none of the other teams in the league, including the ones who needed a running back, would claim him off waivers.

There are people out there who believe that this is how the Blount and Bennett scenarios really went down.

Is Green Bay really complaining? Correct me if I am wrong, but they could have IR'ed him and let him get his surgery, true? Instead THEY tried to save themselves a few bucks and cut him, claiming an undisclosed injury (which seems to have been disclosed), thereby trying to recoup even more, and leave their player without a paycheck. Seems like Green Bay, like Pittsburgh before them, tried to screw a player who ended up with the last laugh. The Patriots are guilty of following the waiver wire rules, nothing else.

Can you really blame Marty for how he handled this? At some point he needs surgery on the shoulder, that much seems clear. If you are (perceived anyway) on a team going nowhere because you lost your Hall of Fame QB for the year, why not shut it down, get the surgery ASAP, then see if you can come back next year. On the other hand, if you are claimed by a team that is still in it, why not play through it? I'm not so sure he shot his way out of town as much as he took advantage of the cards he was dealt. No where does it say that he asked for his release.

 

[BTTA]

You may be right about Allen. The thing that sticks in my mind is that Brady threw to him again after the first TD drop. Brady wanted him to get one which is a good sign. Plus all of his teammates celebrating with him. Hopefully more to come.

Plus, BB has said that Allen has been open several times and Brady didn't see him, so the "lack of production" is (as usual) a team thing as well as an individual thing.

 

[GodBrady]

How could claiming a guy off waivers be tampering? If he was too hurt to play, he doesn't pass the physical and your off the hook for his salary. Is Violin saying that somehow the Pats talked Bennett into telling GB that he wanted to have surgery, knowing full well that GB would cut him?

So know BB can also predict the future and knows the other 31 clubs so well that he can correctly predict how they will handle a contract situation?

Let me be perfectly clear: I'm not saying there was tampering that took place, I am just playing devil's advocate for the sake of answering your question.

Bennett said that he told his agent to inform teams not to claim him. His intention was to get surgery and sit out the remainder of the season.

Alleged tampering would go like this:

Belichick: "Okay, look: we really want you back, but you're too good, there's no way you drop all the way to our spot in the waiver claim. Someone will claim you, if for no other reason to block us."

Agent: "Okay, how about this: we'll let teams know that Bennett plans to get surgery and call it a season/career. That way, they won't even bother putting in a claim on him. This will ensure that he drops to you guys."

Belichick: "Wouldn't that be too obvious though? If you tell the league not to claim him, why would we bother doing it in the first place?"

Agent: "We'll just say you did it because it was 'worth a shot' to try to talk him out of it. What did you have to lose? Besides, I have a feeling that after you claim Marty, he'll have a change of heart about retiring. Wink-wink, nudge-nudge."

Again, I'm not claiming this is what happened. I'm just saying this is what alleged tampering could've looked like.

 

[PatsDeb]

Let me be perfectly clear: I'm not saying there was tampering that took place, I am just playing devil's advocate for the sake of answering your question.

Bennett said that he told his agent to inform teams not to claim him. His intention was to get surgery and sit out the remainder of the season.

Alleged tampering would go like this:

Belichick: "Okay, look: we really want you back, but you're too good, there's no way you drop all the way to our spot in the waiver claim. Someone will claim you, if for no other reason to block us."

Agent: "Okay, how about this: we'll let teams know that Bennett plans to get surgery and call it a season/career. That way, they won't even bother putting in a claim on him. This will ensure that he drops to you guys."

Belichick: "Wouldn't that be too obvious though? If you tell the league not to claim him, why would we bother doing it in the first place?"

Agent: "We'll just say you did it because it was 'worth a shot' to try to talk him out of it. What did you have to lose? Besides, I have a feeling that after you claim Marty, he'll have a change of heart about retiring. Wink-wink, nudge-nudge."

Again, I'm not claiming this is what happened. I'm just saying this is what alleged tampering could've looked like.

LOL, BB would never involve the agent, nor would he ask if something is too obvious! He'd put Ernie Adams on the case to play Jedi mind tricks on the other 30 teams.

However, this was not necessary as Bennett is known as something of a problem child and Green Bay, in their quest to make sure they screwed him as much as possible, announced he was cut and he was a liar about an injury. I'd be surprised if anyone other than BB called at all.

 

[patfanken]

Is Green Bay really complaining? Correct me if I am wrong, but they could have IR'ed him and let him get his surgery, true? Instead THEY tried to save themselves a few bucks and cut him, claiming an undisclosed injury (which seems to have been disclosed), thereby trying to recoup even more, and leave their player without a paycheck. Seems like Green Bay, like Pittsburgh before them, tried to screw a player who ended up with the last laugh. The Patriots are guilty of following the waiver wire rules, nothing else.

Can you really blame Marty for how he handled this? At some point he needs surgery on the shoulder, that much seems clear. If you are (perceived anyway) on a team going nowhere because you lost your Hall of Fame QB for the year, why not shut it down, get the surgery ASAP, then see if you can come back next year. On the other hand, if you are claimed by a team that is still in it, why not play through it? I'm not so sure he shot his way out of town as much as he took advantage of the cards he was dealt. No where does it say that he asked for his release.

You are right on the money here, Deb. People seem to forget or choose to ignore the key issue here. The ONLY issue the GB front office is complaining about is the non- disclosure of a shoulder injury.

This seems specious on the surface because they supposedly did a complete physical of the guy before they signed him. (Xrays, MRI's etc) Besides even a casual Pats FANS knew he ended the season with a shoulder problem he played through. If we knew about it, how did it seem to slip by their medical people. If non-disclosure is GB's only issue then I seriously doubt they will see any of their bonus money back. I think they were pissed about the entire Bennett situation and are doing this to try and save face with both the league and their own fans. It will amount to nothing in the end.

Now I don't think Marty made the right PR choice to attack that medical staff. Clearly this was a situation where he COULD have played up there. He just didn't see the point. At this point of his career, I don't blame him. Also, for whatever reason, he was having a bad year in GB, so it was probably clear to him that GB would get rid of him at the end of the year anyway. None of the rest of his money is guaranteed. So like Jeremy Hill, if he gets the surgery now, he'd likely be fully healthy by the start of FA if he chose to play another year.

Remember too that it was GB who cut him, rather than let him get the surgery and prepare for next year. There was NEVER going to be a next year for Marty Bennett in GB. I thought the Pats should have let him get through waivers and save that comp pick, but maybe they thought the Steelers would have taken a shot at him. We will never know.

Well anyway. We all know that Marty is a "different dude". He's not a great locker room fit everywhere. But he IS a good fit here. I doubt very much he'll ever get more than 20 snaps in a game. I put it at 50-50 that he lasts until the playoffs.

But while he remains on the active roster, even in a limited role, he makes this team better. I don't think anyone questions that fact. So here's hoping he beats the odds and plays the last 7-10 games of this season and gives us depth and options for the offense. Based on the seven snaps he got last Sunday, he's off to a great start.

 

[patchick]

Alleged tampering would go like this:

Belichick: "Okay, look: we really want you back, but you're too good, there's no way you drop all the way to our spot in the waiver claim. Someone will claim you, if for no other reason to block us."

Agent: "Okay, how about this: we'll let teams know that Bennett plans to get surgery and call it a season/career. That way, they won't even bother putting in a claim on him. This will ensure that he drops to you guys."

...

Even if that (obviously wildly improbable) scenario were word-for-word accurate, would it be tampering? How can you tamper with a player who isn't under contract to anyone? What team would be the injured party?

For GB to charge NE with tampering, they would have to claim collusion with the player while he was still a Packer -- some diabolical plan to convince the Packers to cut a player who had already played 75% of snaps for them for half a season, claiming that they just discovered he had a bad shoulder. No surprise, they're making no tampering claims.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

It is not very uncommon for various pundits to talk about the fact that Danny Amendola needs to "manage his work load:. Will there be attempt to portray Martellus Bennett in a similar vein?

 

[patchick]

Were Dan Shaughnessy and Ron Borges unavailable to ask that question?

While I'm no great Ben Volin fan, that question did get the NFL to officially shoot down the ridiculous cries of "tampering." And if Mike Reiss had asked the exact same question, we'd all assume he was just trying to get the truth stated clearly and for the record.

 

[Gumby]

Let me be perfectly clear: I'm not saying there was tampering that took place, I am just playing devil's advocate for the sake of answering your question.

Bennett said that he told his agent to inform teams not to claim him. His intention was to get surgery and sit out the remainder of the season.

Alleged tampering would go like this:

Belichick: "Okay, look: we really want you back, but you're too good, there's no way you drop all the way to our spot in the waiver claim. Someone will claim you, if for no other reason to block us."

Agent: "Okay, how about this: we'll let teams know that Bennett plans to get surgery and call it a season/career. That way, they won't even bother putting in a claim on him. This will ensure that he drops to you guys."

Belichick: "Wouldn't that be too obvious though? If you tell the league not to claim him, why would we bother doing it in the first place?"

Agent: "We'll just say you did it because it was 'worth a shot' to try to talk him out of it. What did you have to lose? Besides, I have a feeling that after you claim Marty, he'll have a change of heart about retiring. Wink-wink, nudge-nudge."

Again, I'm not claiming this is what happened. I'm just saying this is what alleged tampering could've looked like.

Assuming that entire conversation took place AFTER HE WAS CUT, you CANNOT HAVE TAMPERING.

Tampering means you are interfering with another team that has ownership. (Like the Jete owner talking about Revis while he was still a Patriot. ) He was unowned at that point and all 32 teams are allowed to talk to his agent.

Now, you could accuse them of secret deal making, but I am not sure there are rules against that or not.

But I don't believe BB expressed anything , more than the sincere interest in having him back. (And that not until it was legal. He wouldn't comment about someone in a press conference

 

[fnordcircle]

Yeah, no, definitely after everything that has gone down in the last 10 years I'm sure Belichick was like '**** it, let's tamper. If we get caught all that will happen is huge fines, loss of draft picks and I'll probably be suspended. Totally worth it for a half season rental of a good but injured TE.'