Bennett takes aim at Bears' record book
While discussions of the top NFL tight ends rarely include the Bears' Martellus Bennett, a slight that Bennett is keenly aware of, change is coming.
New England's Rob Gronkowski is the only tight end enjoying a more productive season than the ever-improving Bennett. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Bennett has seen his numbers jump in each of his three seasons as a full-time starter, starting in 2012, his last season with the New York Giants before he signed with the Bears in free agency.
In those three seasons, Bennett's receptions have increased from 55 in 2012 to 65 in 2013 and 77 in 2014, with three games left. His yardage improved from 626 to 759 to 821 so far this season.
"Every single year has been a progression," Bennett said. "I just work hard, and I sit back every single week and hear people talk about the top tight ends in the game. And every single week they never mention my name, or they talk about all these other guys.
"So, every time I go out I just try to outperform every tight end in the league and show them that I am elite and I'm one of the best in the league. I think I've been playing that way most of the year."
That has been especially true the last two games - both nationally televised games - with Bennett grabbing 20 passes for 193 yards and 1 touchdown. He has a career-best 6 TDs this season.
Bennett gets another chance to perform in the national spotlight Monday night, which no one appreciates more than the loquacious extrovert.
Even better, he gets to compete against the Saints' Jimmy Graham, a two-time Pro Bowl tight end whose last four games have been his least productive since he was a rookie in 2010. In the previous three seasons, Graham averaged 90 catches, 1,169 yards and 12 touchdowns.
"I'm excited about playing against the Saints," Bennett said. "They have another guy who's supposed to be a top tight end on the other side - Jimmy Graham. I enjoy watching him play, and their team is pretty good, and we run similar offenses, so it should be pretty fun."
Because he took such a beating while catching 12 passes against Dallas, where he played his first four seasons, Bennett got Monday off, and expects to be at practice Thursday.
It surprised a lot of people who watched the loss to Dallas that Bennett made it through that game.
"I got hurt, we're losing, but I'm still out there to compete and play with my teammates," Bennett said. "I could have easily sat out and said, 'Oh, I don't want to get hurt,' but that's just not who I am."
Against the Cowboys, Bennett passed Hall of Famer Mike Ditka's franchise record of 75 receptions by a tight end. Bennett's powerful, tackle-breaking runs after the catch are reminiscent of Ditka, but there are noticeable differences among the two.
"I know a little bit more (about Ditka) than when I first came here," Bennett said. "But he usually had a scowl on his face, and I usually have a smile. It's great to be up in the ranks with Mike Ditka, (considering) the things that he's done for the franchise.
"I plan on chasing down all his records and retiring as a Bear. And hopefully, at some point in my career, I'm only chasing myself."
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