Bennett absent from Bears' voluntary pratice
Pro Bowl tight end Martellus Bennett has yet to attend any of the Bears' voluntary off-season activities, including Wednesday's sixth OTA (organized team activity) practice.
Coach John Fox has expressed little interest in or concern with Bennett's absence, at least publicly.
"As I said before, this is voluntary," Fox said, when asked when he expects to see Bennett. "It's not going to change for the rest of this off-season. So you'll have to ask him that. I just know we've got a lot guys out here working really hard to get better."
OTAs conclude next week.
If Bennett is working to improve on his career-best 2014 performance (90 catches, 916 yards), he's doing it in private. The seven-year veteran wants a new contract just two years into the four-year, $20.4 million deal he signed as a free agent in 2013. That agreement pays him base salaries of $4.9 million this season and $5.085 in 2016.
Ironically, in his quest for more money, Bennett has already forfeited his $100,000 workout bonus and could be fined an additional $73,000 if he boycotts the mandatory minicamp June 16-18.
Fox said he is unaware of Bennett's plans for that final minicamp, the last team event before the start of training camp on July 29.
"I can't predict what those intentions are - just that I'd prefer him to be here," Fox said. "(For) now, we'll put all of our energy and focus on the guys that are."
Even without Bennett, the Bears still have seven tight ends on the roster, in all shapes and sizes, including veterans Dante Rosario, Zach Miller and Bear Pascoe.
Miller (6-foot-5, 236 pounds) had an excellent camp a year ago and caught 2 TD passes in the preseason opener before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
"He made a really good grab (Tuesday)," Fox said. "I think he's flashed. He's a guy that we heard had a great camp (last year). We just need him to stay healthy."
Rosario, at 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds, caught 16 passes for 116 yards last season for the Bears and was a contributor on special teams. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Pascoe, primarily a blocker, played in all 16 games last season for the Atlanta Falcons and caught 2 passes. In his five previous seasons, all with the Giants, Pascoe caught 38 passes for 33 yards.
Filling in gaps:
Coach John Fox has been quick to put the failed Ray McDonald experiment in the rearview mirror.
"Obviously we gave him a second chance, and everybody knew the parameters," Fox said. "Those were pretty well documented, and we moved on."
McDonald was released May 25, the same day as his arrest for misdemeanor domestic abuse and child endangerment, his third arrest in nine months. The Bears must find a replacement for McDonald, who was penciled in as a starter at defensive left end.
"We've got capable guys," Fox said. "That's what we're doing now in the middle of these OTAs. Somebody will rise to the (top). It's kind of where everybody in the league is at this point in time in the off-season."
Road to recovery:
Injured defensive ends/linebackers Lamarr Houston and Willie Young, rehabbing 2014 season-ending injuries, did basic individual work on the side under the watchful eyes of the training staff.
Houston, who suffered a torn ACL in his right knee at midseason, is farther along than Young, who was felled by a torn left Achilles tendon in the season finale.
"They're week-to-week," coach John Fox said. "They're on target, and we'll see when they get back out there."
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