One of the biggest off-season questions for the Chicago Bears this off-season was regarding what they would do with tight end Martelluss Bennett. The decision was made on Wednesday night, as the team sent Bennett to the New England Patriots in a trade for draft pick compensation.
Bennett is signed through the 2016 season and will earn a base salary of $5.085 million this season. The team placed the franchise tag on Bennett a month ago, preventing him from testing free agency this season.
The tight end has struggled to reach a deal with Chicago over the last year, which led to him not attending the team's offseason program in 2015, although he did show up for training camp and minicamp to avoid a fine.
He would go on to catch 53 passes for 439 yards and three touchdowns this past year, before a rib injury ended his season on December 8th. Bennett made the Pro Bowl in 2014, when he had 90 catches for 916 yards and six touchdowns.
After questioning his role in the Bears' offense last season, there will be no question what his role will be in Tom Brady's offense, and that's Rob Gronkowski's counterpart in the double-tight end threat.
Bennett is signed through the 2016 season and will earn a base salary of $5.085 million this season. The team placed the franchise tag on Bennett a month ago, preventing him from testing free agency this season.
The tight end has struggled to reach a deal with Chicago over the last year, which led to him not attending the team's offseason program in 2015, although he did show up for training camp and minicamp to avoid a fine.
He would go on to catch 53 passes for 439 yards and three touchdowns this past year, before a rib injury ended his season on December 8th. Bennett made the Pro Bowl in 2014, when he had 90 catches for 916 yards and six touchdowns.
After questioning his role in the Bears' offense last season, there will be no question what his role will be in Tom Brady's offense, and that's Rob Gronkowski's counterpart in the double-tight end threat.
