[moklerman]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patr ... us_bennett

The Patriots now have their best tight end tandem since Aaron Hernandez was incarcerated.

The Pats acquired tight end Martellus Bennett from the Bears, and the teams also swapped mid-round draft picks as part of the deal, according to a source.

The Bears have been looking to trade Bennett this offseason, as the 6-foot-6, 273-pounder apparently wasn't happy with the team's string of losing seasons. The Patriots, meanwhile, have struggled to pair Rob Gronkowski with a legitimate pass-catching tight end since 2013, with Tim Wright and Scott Chandler as the most recent options to fall short of expectations.

Bennett, a 2014 Pro Bowler who turned 29 last week, has averaged 65.8 receptions for 685 yards and 4.8 touchdowns over the past four seasons, including three with the Bears and one with the Giants.

ESPN first reported the trade.

Seems like such a good deal for the Patriots that it makes me wonder how many other teams even asked the Bears what they would take for him? The Rams NEED a TE and a 4th for a pro-bowl caliber guy seems awfully affordable. Patriots don't even need a TE and got a value.

Is this an example of why the Patriots continue to be good and why the Rams continue to struggle?

[Hacksaw]

Yes. It's hard to get off the blocks after the decade long public debacle our Rams had/have become. Players want to win and that's what the Pat's do. They have that advantage a good coach and a great quarterback. They seem to always get their man and make the most of them. Damnit.

If The LA Rams can start appearing in the tournament again, I think that will open FA eyes. Also It seems we are a couple players away from a full roster which will make off seasons and retooling simpler. Bottom line is we have to start wining more.

[Elvis]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/fo ... story.html

Getting something for Martellus Bennett was a win for Ryan Pace

Brad Biggs
Chicago Tribune

Just because the Bears never publicly expressed frustration with Martellus Bennett doesn't mean their marriage could have been saved with a little time in counseling.

Bennett got off to a rough start with a new administration and new coaching staff — one known for being player-friendly — a year ago when he opted not to participate in the voluntary offseason program in a bid for a new contract.

Things took a turn for the unfixable before the Bears' Thanksgiving night game at Green Bay. Upset that teammate Zach Miller was being featured, Bennett became disruptive on the practice field. The week before he had blown a block on a two-point conversion as the Bears attempted to force overtime in a loss to the Broncos at Soldier Field.

Teammates privately expressed frustration with Bennett. A player upset about his contract isn't anything new, but when that leads to other issues, it can become untenable. So much so that some dialed-in observers from other teams didn't believe Bears general manager Ryan Pace would be able to trade Bennett. Bennett likely would have been released otherwise.

Pace pulled it off Wednesday when the Bears agreed to send Bennett and a sixth-round draft pick (204th overall) to the Patriots for a fourth-round pick (127th overall). The 204th pick originally belonged to the Patriots and was acquired when the Bears traded linebacker Jon Bostic to New England in September. The Bears own nine picks for the April draft — their own in each round and now the Patriots' in the fourth round and the Panthers' sixth-rounder from the Jared Allen deal.

That makes Miller, who was re-signed Monday to a two-year contract, the No. 1 tight end, and could put the Bears in position to consider selecting one in the draft.

"If that is wanted of me, I definitely can do it," Miller said Monday night about the possibility of replacing Bennett atop the depth chart.

Some fans, especially those still unable to comprehend the dynamics in play with wide receiver Brandon Marshall before he was traded, will condemn the move. A team in need of playmakers is losing one and not getting anyone who can replace Bennett on the field.

Miller and Bennett is a more formidable pair than Miller and Rob Housler (re-signed for one year Monday) or a player to be named later. But there was more in play as Bennett never showed the willingness to buy into the program while believing he deserved a pay raise just two years into a four-year contract. Had he been a good soldier and been more productive last season, maybe the Bears would have talked extension this offseason, but we'll never know.

Bennett, 29, will now be paired with All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski, and the Patriots are betting he'll toe the line playing for coach Bill Belichick and with quarterback Tom Brady. Bennett is due to earn $5.185 million in the final year of his contract and the Bears clear that much from their salary cap by moving him.

It's a better deal than a year ago when the Bears dumped Marshall and a seventh-round pick to the Jets to get a fifth-round pick in return. This swap of picks moves the team up 77 spots in the draft.

Bennett, who also has played for the Cowboys and Giants, caught 53 passes for 439 yards and three touchdowns last season but missed five games, the last four when he was on injured reserve with a rib injury. In 2014, he led all tight ends with 90 receptions when he added 916 yards and six touchdowns and was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate. The Bears originally signed Bennett to a four-year contract in 2013 when then-general manager Phil Emery brought him and left tackle Jermon Bushrod in at the same.

Bennett was unhappy with his targets at the midway point of last season, but at the time he was among the top five targeted tight ends in the NFL and was on pace to get as many balls thrown his way as he did the year before. Coach John Fox had little reaction when asked about Bennett's practice field disruption in November.

"I don't really care," Fox said. "I get upset too."

The previous coaching staff was frustrated with Bennett's habit of loafing in practice, and he was suspended and fined for throwing down cornerback Kyle Fuller during a 2014 training camp altercation.

Bennett will likely be on his best behavior in New England and could be quite productive in the way Aaron Hernandez put up big numbers playing opposite Gronkowski. But the Bears moved on a while ago and Pace did well to get something in return.

[email protected]

Twitter @BradBiggs

[moklerman]

I still wonder if the Rams even asked about him? Okay, he's a problem child. As long as they didn't feature Harkey more than him, sounds like he might be alright. If the Regime before Fox had a problem with him, it was working. He made the pro-bowl in 2014.

As much as I was ready to see Cook gone, the Rams need to play someone at TE. A rookie? Old Man Daniels? It's just getting to me. Treading water with a .500 team isn't what I want to see. Bring SOMEONE in who can be a difference maker on offense.

[Neil039]

I still wonder if the Rams even asked about him? Okay, he's a problem child. As long as they didn't feature Harkey more than him, sounds like he might be alright. If the Regime before Fox had a problem with him, it was working. He made the pro-bowl in 2014.

As much as I was ready to see Cook gone, the Rams need to play someone at TE. A rookie? Old Man Daniels? It's just getting to me. Treading water with a .500 team isn't what I want to see. Bring SOMEONE in who can be a difference maker on offense.

Hoping Henry is the answer via the draft. Doubt he'll make it out of the late first round or to the Rams first 2nd rounder. Not worth the pick at 15 (IMO), if the trade back scenario happens it would be a nice pick up later in the first.