Chicago Bears tight end Bennett wants the ball

If you didn't know better, you might think Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett was a malcontent.

Like almost all receivers, Bennett believes he's always open and should be getting the ball more. While he's the Bears' leader with 37 receptions this season - 11 more than runner-up Eddie Royal - he insists more would be better.

"At some point they have to come my way," said Bennett who had "just" 3 catches for 43 yards last week. "But until they do, there's nothing I can do about it."

Bennett says he doesn't plead his case in the huddle, but that seems improbable, given his gift of gab.

"That's a bad employee," he said. "I'm just going to keep my head down and go to work. When you say something, you become the (jerk), even if it's a valid point. So I just avoid drama."

Bennett says it's not worth the repercussions of being a squeaky wheel.

"Not in this league," he said. "They don't pay the (jerks). At this point I just want to be a real good employee."

But with Bennett, the line between loquacious pontificator and whiny complainer can become blurred when he climbs up on his locker-room soapbox.

The eight-year veteran stayed away from all of the voluntary portions of the Bears' off-season program in a failed attempt for a new contract halfway through his four-year, $20.4 million deal. Not exactly a model employee.

But it doesn't appear to have affected his performance, and Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase doesn't mind Bennett campaigning for more attention in the passing game.

"It's never bothered me," Gase said. "If you're a skill guy and you don't want the ball, then there's something wrong. I want guys that want the ball and that want to have plays designed for them. That's part of being in those positions."

Bennett's 37 catches are seventh among NFL tight ends. But he is clearly envious of the marquee names at his position, including 13-year San Diego Chargers veteran Antonio Gates, a future Hall of Famer, who enters Monday night's game against the Bears with 810 career receptions for 10,257 yards and 101 touchdowns.

"I always loved Gates. I watched Gates since I was younger," Bennett said. "I tried to watch his tape to see if I could learn anything, but you really can't because it's chemistry. (Quarterback) Philip (Rivers) is so good that (Gates) has much more freedom in the offense than most tight ends would have, so he's able to do a lot of different things.

"I don't really have that much freedom like he has to get open like that."

Gates and Rivers have been teammates so long - since 2003 - that they probably finish each other's sentences. Gates has 22 catches this season, 15 fewer than Bennett.

"He's their No. 1 target, and I'm like third or fourth," Bennett said in a bit of an exaggeration. "But that's been my whole career, even last year, the year before that, but I still make plays."

Actually Gates is the Chargers' fifth-leading receiver. He has been targeted 32 times, while Bennett has been targeted 58 times, 21 more than any teammate.

But before you get the wrong idea about Bennett, know this: He often is asked to do the dirty work that the glamour tight ends don't do, helping out in pass protection and blocking for the run game almost like a sixth offensive lineman.

He does it well, and his all-around game is appreciated by teammates and coaches. When Gase was asked why Bennett hasn't made much of an impact since an 11-catch, 83-yard game against the Oakland Raiders in Week 4, the OC took umbrage.

"I would disagree with that statement," Gase said. "Everybody looks at catches, yards, touchdowns and things like that. (But) he's such a vital piece of our running game (and) our protection scheme."

Three different players have started at center for the Bears through seven games, and right tackle Kyle Long is the only O-lineman to start all seven games in the same spot. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Bennett has helped pick up the slack created by injuries.

"We've had a lot of changes up front," Gase said. "He's one of the main reasons we're able to hold on to the ball, make some of those throws downfield and have some explosive plays. It's because he's helping our protection."

Clearly Gase has made getting the ball to Bennett a priority, but circumstances sometimes dictate that the ball go elsewhere.

"We do a lot to try to get him the ball sometimes," Gase said. "But sometimes he's asked to stay in protection and be great in the running game, (at) which he does such a good job. That's why we're able to do what we do."

Nevertheless, Bennett is still among the elite tight ends statistically.

The New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski, the Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce and the Cleveland Browns' Gary Barnidge are tied at the top with 40 catches, followed by the Seattle Seahawks' Jimmy Graham, the New Orleans Saints' Ben Watson and the Dallas Cowboys' Jason Witten with 38.

"You watch their style of play," Bennett said of the marquee tight ends. "They really don't block. They do a lot of stuff in the passing game. I have to kick (butt) at the line of scrimmage and then kick (butt) downfield.

"Those guys, they're more pass-catching tight ends, and they get the freedom to just run down the field most of the time. Nobody expects them to pass protect or go 1-on-1 with the No. 1 pass rusher.

"You see Jimmy (Graham)? Jimmy can't block worth (bleep). They get a lot of credit, a lot of love, but (the Jacksonville Jaguars') Julius (Thomas) doesn't block nobody, Gates doesn't really block anybody.

"But they do a great job in the passing game. It all depends on the system that you're in."

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler feels Bennett's pain, but he takes a broader view of the offense and how the tight end fits it.

"Marty wants the ball," Cutler said. "It would probably be a problem if he didn't want the ball. He always wants the ball at practice. Every game he wants the ball. But we're seeing a lot of single-high (safeties) out there in games, and having (wide receiver) Alshon (Jeffery) back opened up some of the lanes outside.

"Marty had 11 catches against Oakland, and then teams took him away a little bit. Alshon has got some balls, which I'm sure is going to open some things up back inside for (Marty). He's a little bit frustrated, but he'll be patient and we'll continue to find ways to get him the ball."

Even if they do, it probably won't be enough to satisfy Bennett.

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