Bears' Bennett not big on comparisons to Saints' Graham
Tight end Martellus Bennett is usually happy to talk about anything, whether it's football related or not.
But Saints Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham is not a popular topic for Bennett.
“I don't give a (rip),” Bennett said when asked about Graham, who is tied for the NFL lead with 6 touchdowns, second with 458 receiving yards and tied for eighth with 27 catches. “I think he does a phenomenal job for the Saints, but I'm not in competition with him. We have different roles on our team. He's the No. 1 target over there and I have different job from him.”
Bennett is tied for the Bears lead with 3 touchdowns, second with 225 receiving yards and third with 20 catches.
“We're different athletes,” Bennett said. “I think a lot of times people try to compare us, but we do a lot of things differently. He does a good job going up for the jump ball and making plays for them. He's the No. 1 choice over there. I'm a team guy. Whatever I've got to do, if I have to block a little bit more, whatever it is, I'll do that.”
Catching on:
It hasn't yet gained the popularity of Shania Twain or Bryan Adams, other popular Canadian imports, but Marc Trestman's “58 and 2” mantra is gaining popularity at Halas Hall.
“It really started up North,” said Trestman, who was the Montreal Alouettes head coach before he joined the Bears. “You realize if you take care of the football (for the first 58 minutes) and you are a disciplined football team, you're probably going to be in every game in the fourth quarter (and in the last two minutes). If you're on the plus side of the turnover ratio heading into the fourth quarter and you minimize your penalties, you're probably going to be in the game.
“Then it comes down to winning the fourth quarter, and lots of times winning the fourth is the last two minutes of the game. So it's all based on finishing. If we're in the game, we've got a chance to win, and that's where those last two (minutes) really come into play.”
Just be yourself:
You have to like the honesty of Pro Bowl cornerback Tim Jennings, who was asked how he goes about rattling Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who is fifth in the NFL with a 103.8 passer rating.
“I don't think I rattle him at all,” Jennings said. “I just have to be able to make the plays I'm supposed to make, if he decides to come my way. (Just) be there and hopefully he decides to go to other places, man. You have to limit his throws down the field, make him drive the field. And hopefully we have an opportunity for a lot of takeaways.”
Injury update:
Wide receiver Brandon Marshall (foot), defensive tackle Stephen Paea (toe), cornerback Charles Tillman (groin/knee) and safety Anthony Walters (hamstring) did not practice Thursday for the second straight day, and D.J. Williams did not participate because of illness.
Defensive end Julius Peppers (chest), tight end Martellus Bennett (shoulder) had full participation, while cornerback Sherrick McManis (quad) was limited again.