Packers tight end Martellus Bennett is seemingly considering hanging up his cleats following the end of the 2017 season, as he announced on his Instagram account (Twitter link).
“After conversations with my family I’m pretty sure these next 8 games will be the conclusion of my NFL career,” writes Bennett. “To everyone who has poured themselves and time into my life and career. These next games are for you. Thank you.”
Bennett, 30, is in the midst of his 10th NFL campaign, and his first with the Packers, with whom he signed a three-year, $21MM deal in the spring. Fresh off one of the more productive seasons of his career with the Patriots in 2016, Bennett has disappointed this year, as he’s managed only 24 receptions, 233 yards, and zero touchdowns through seven games.
If this is it for Bennett, the former second-round pick will have completed an outstanding decade-long career, a tenure all the more noteworthy given that Bennett was essentially a part-time player through his first four NFL seasons (all with the Cowboys). Over the next five years, Bennett averaged 64 catches, 688 yards, and six touchdowns per season with the Giants, Bears, and Patriots, and earned a Super Bowl ring in the process.
Bennett will finish the rest of his Packers career without quarterback Aaron Rodgers under center, so his dismal numbers might not see much of an improvement over the second half of the season. If Bennett does indeed retire, Green Bay will be stuck with dead money in 2018, as $4.2MM in prorated signing bonus cash will immediately accelerate onto the Packers’ salary cap.
Bennett has never been accused of a shortage of interests, and his life off the football field figures to be just as entertaining and refreshing as his NFL career. (For an excellent profile of Bennett and his brother, Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett, check out Mina Kimes’ of ESPN.com’s 2016 piece.)
Outstanding career may be an overstatement…
He’s been the league’s No. 5 tight end by approximate value since becoming a full-time starter in 2012. I’d call that pretty outstanding.
Right. That’s 5 years. He’s been in the league for 10….
Yeah, just not sure you can penalize him for being stuck behind Jason Witten in Dallas. He’s been great since getting a starting role.
I mean he produced behind Gronk in NE. It’s not like he didn’t have opportunities. He was a terrible teammate and played terrible while he was in dallas.
If he was “outstanding” he’d have been in a starting role, so having a good to very good career might be a better choice of words.
I think all of you are forgetting that simply playing 10 years in the NFL is outstanding.
He’s trash. Worst fantasy pick of 2017.
Still think so? Just got claimed on waivers by the Patriots.
I think they know talent, when they see it.
Sorry about the fantasy team tho.