Bears Agree To Deal With Giants TE Martellus Bennett

By Chuck Sudo in News on Mar 12, 2013 8:30PM

We aren't even 30 minutes into the NFL's free agency period and already the Bears have made a splash by agreeing to terms with New York Giants tight end Martellus Bennett, filling one of the team's most obvious needs and giving quarterback Jay Cutler another target besides Brandon Marshall in the passing game. (Brian Urlacher, a free agent for the first time in his career, can apparently wait.)

Bennett was drafted in 2008 by the Dallas Cowboys, where he criticized Tony Romo as often as owner Jerry Jones criticized him, and signed a one-year deal with the Giants last season. He has loads of potential, had a breakout 2012 season with the Giants, catching a career-high 55 passes for 626 yards and five touchdowns, and was ranked as the best free agent tight end on the market for his combination of run blocking and offensive abilities. Callers on WSCR-AM are already criticizing the deal. To those folks we have two things to say to you:

1. Remember all the times Lovie Smith said Kellen Fucking Davis could do everything an elite NFL tight end could do.

2. Have a beer, put away the phone and enjoy this. Bennett has the ability to solidify the tight end position for years to come. Don't believe us? Maybe you'll want to read what Pro Football Focus had to say about Bennett (via Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald):

“He had already shown himself as a great run-blocker, and this year proved he can support the passing game as well, as he posted 70 or more yards in four games,” the website opined. “While he may never lead the league as a receiving tight end, it is rare to find someone who can truly do it all at the position.”

Bennett, a 6-foot-6, 265-pounder, takes particular pride in being the NFL’s version of a Swiss Army Knife.

“People think they’re suppose(d) to do one or the other,” he wrote on Twitter recently. “Get one that can block and one that can run routes. That’s stupid.”

Oh, yeah: You may want to subscribe to Bennett's Twitter feed — he goes by the handle "JoeGryffindor" which is enough reason to follow him. Also, Bennett announced his intentions to join the Bears once the free agency period opened.

I'm proud to say I'll be joining my other brother @bmarshall next season. #BEARDOWN

— Martellus Bennett (@JoeGryffindor) March 12, 2013

Bennett and Marshall share the same agent.