Bears Should Explore Trading Earl Bennett to Patriots
Dec 30, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett (80) before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett was supposedly on the trading block before roster cutdowns, but he was difficult to trade coming off a preseason concussion, so talks broke off. If I were Phil Emery, I would be on the phone with the New England Patriots today.
Thursday night’s game between the Patriots and the New York Jets, a 13-10 Patriots win, featured Tom Brady doing his best (or worst) Jay Cutler impression. It’s funny how losing quality, professional wide receivers turned Mr. Wonderful into a petulant toddler who didn’t want to eat his peas.
Sep 12, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) wipes his forehead during warm-ups before the game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Brady was seen going off on a number of his receivers during a very uncharacteristic outing that had him go 19 for 39 for just 185 yards and 1 touchdown against the lowly Jets. Brady even commented in his postgame presser that he needed to work on his body language. I think it could all be fixed by getting a competent wide receiver like Earl Bennett.
Brady was without Rob Gronkowski, who’s still coming off offseason surgeries on the arm he broke late last year. Aaron Hernandez is in the State Pen league, where they won’t even let him watch game. Danny Amendola is out with a groin injury, so Julian Edelman became Brady’s top receiver, with 13 catches for 78 yards on 18 targets. Meanwhile, the inexperienced Kembrell Tompkins and Aaron Dobson combined for 5 catches for 103 yards and a TD on 17 targets.
Meanwhile, Earl Bennett has been pushed back to the Bears’ third receiver, with up-and-comers Joe Anderson and rookie burner Marquess Wilson nipping at his heels. Bennett signed a hefty contract extension in 2011, before the arrival of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery.
Bennett took a $1 million pay cut before the start of the season. A team usually doesn’t approach a player about a pay cut unless they’re prepared to move on without him. If the Bears are serious about trading Bennett, Phil Emery should be on the phone with Bill Belichick and work out a deal. With the injury-prone Amendola and the recovering Gronk’s health as big question marks throughout the season, a professional wide receiver like Earl Bennett, who had just 4 drops in 127 catchable balls in a three year span, would be able to immediately improve a Patriots team suddenly in need of some offensive weapons.
Bennett isn’t flashy, but he’s a steady pro and teamed up with Brady and the Pat’s passing game, would flourish. It could be a win-win for both teams. Maybe the Bears could get a 3rd round pick out of the Patriots as they reshape their roster.
What do you think? Would you trade Bennett? What is he worth? Let’s hear your Comments. Log into Disqus using your Facebook, Twitter or Google accounts.