Bennett back from Pack
FOXBORO — The Patriots received a gift from cheesehead heaven.
Tight end Martellus Bennett was claimed off waivers yesterday to formalize a transaction that made too much sense not to happen. The Green Bay Packers surprisingly released Bennett on Wednesday, and the Pats jumped all over a golden opportunity for the reunion.
To make room, the Patriots released defensive end
Geneo Grissom, who had been a healthy scratch in the previous two games and would likely return to the practice squad if he clears waivers.
Bennett played a key role last season during the Pats’ run to Super Bowl LI, particularly as he played through several injuries down the stretch to stabilize the tight end depth chart in the aftermath of Rob Gronkowski’s back surgery. In 16 regular-season games, Bennett caught 55 passes for 701 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns, and his blocking was also consistently reliable.
This year, Gronkowski’s backups haven’t come close to that level of production.
Dwayne Allen doesn’t have a catch on just six targets, and
Tom Brady has never displayed any on-field chemistry with him. Undrafted rookie Jacob Hollister has three catches for 37 yards.
Gronkowski has largely been terrific with 34 receptions for 509 yards and five touchdowns, but defenses have clearly targeted him with added physicality without wide receiver Julian Edelman to clear a bit more space over the middle of the field. After he was legwhipped against the Carolina Panthers, Gronkowski missed one game with a thigh contusion, and the Pats needed to find a way to remove some of that burden from his shoulders.
The reunion with Bennett sparks memories of a similar situation with LeGarrette Blount. The running back was with the Patriots in 2013 and left for the Steelers in ’14, only to fall out of favor in the Pittsburgh locker room, get released and quickly book a return trip to New England.
And now, it’s worth wondering if Bennett will be active as early as Sunday night in Denver against the Broncos, especially with wide receiver Chris Hogan likely out with a shoulder injury. It’d be a quick turnaround, though, because the Patriots fly out to Denver today after practice.
Regardless, the waiver claim showed just how strongly the Patriots wanted Bennett back in the building. The Pats will inherit the balance of Bennett’s threeyear, $21 million contract, including an $6.45 million cap hit in 2018 and $6.5 million cap hit in 2019, but they ensured they wouldn’t have to compete with a team like the Seattle Seahawks for his services in free agency. The Patriots can get out of the contract without incurring any dead money prior to paying his $2 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2018 league year.
Bennett and the Pats parted ways in the offseason when he wanted to maximize his financial gains after winning his first Super Bowl. He overplayed his hand by requesting $9 million annually, so the Patriots instead acquired Allen from the Indianapolis Colts.
The Packers soured on Bennett this season after quarterback Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone, and he wrote on Instagram during the bye week that he was “pretty sure” he’d retire after the season. He was inactive Monday night against the Detroit Lions due to a shoulder injury.
The Patriots may not be too concerned with Bennett’s health issues, as he played through damaged ankles, as well as shoulder and knee ailments, last season. His toughness was never questioned.
And for all that, the Patriots jumped on this opportunity to get him back in the fold.
Worth the trip
Prior to signing with the Patriots this week, defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois felt right at home as soon as he got off the plane.
See, Jean Francois has already set himself up for his post-playing career. He owns 30 Dunkin’ Donuts franchises and hopes to eventually purchase 50. And now, he is basically in the Dunkin’ Donuts capital of the free world.
“As soon as I got off the airplane, every block I hit I saw a Dunkin’ Donuts,” Jean Francois said. “And I said, ‘I must be in Dunkin’ Donuts heaven up here.’”
Jean Francois got the idea to get into the business world in 2014, and he has since purchased stores in Savannah, Ga., and Hilton Head Island, S.C. And he is a big fan of Gronkowski, a well-known Dunks spokesman.
“I love him because he’s got business booming,” Jean Francois said. “Every time I see that commercial, I smile now. When I see Gronk, I’m making a whole lot of money this year seeing his pretty face.”
Gronkowski is apparently the gift that keeps on giving, too.
Fabiano’s in
Offensive lineman Anthony Fabiano. a Wakefield native and Harvard product, was signed to the practice squad. To make room, receiver Jake Kumerow was released.