Martellus Bennett

[mraynrand]

I'm still baffled as to why they gave up Cook and went and got Kendricks. They could have picked up Bennett for blocking and keptCook for receiving. Especially after that nice run down the stretch last year.

[mraynrand]

Oh and now look - Cook fantastic down the stretch for the Raiders.

[Rutnstrut]

Oh and now look - Cook fantastic down the stretch for the Raiders.

He's been getting better as the season wears on. As he gets more settled with his new team. Sound familiar??? Just think how great he could have been in GB this year.

[Harlan Huckleby]

We will need to convene the Council of Elders at the end of the regular season to decide whether Bennett is really better than Cook, at least this season. The COE may need to issue some rebukes, we'll see.

I thought Cook really had developed some chemistry with team last year. Would his salary have broken the bank? Maybe so.

[mraynrand]

two years, 12.2 million? That's really not that much. And I bet the Packers could have had him a little cheaper had they acted right away.

Also, I don't see this as necessarily a Cook or Bennett deal. Probably could have had both. Bennett was only 3.85 mil cap hit this year. Next year is 8.5 mil. Could have structured Cook for three year deal with lower cap hit which would probably be about 2 times Kendricks hit. Maybe. Not a huge difference to have a really dynamic TE and the clocking TE you wanted too.

[Pugger]

Didn't we make an offer to Cook that he declined before we signed Bennett?

[mraynrand]

Didn't we make an offer to Cook that he declined before we signed Bennett?

I just can't recall if there was evidence that they tried to low ball him. maybe PB or Patler who love this salary stuff know.

[Patler]

I just can't recall if there was evidence that they tried to low ball him. maybe PB or Patler who love this salary stuff know.

Conflicting reports "from insiders" within days after Bennett signed.
First stories said they had offered Cook more than they ended up giving Bennett, making it a virtual no-brainer for them.
The next day that was contradicted, with reports they offered Cook $6 million/ year for 3 years, and Bennett got essentially $7 million/year for 3 years.

Either way, they didn't low-ball Cook.

[bobblehead]

Oh and now look - Cook fantastic down the stretch for the Raiders.

They only showed it once on replay then conveniently avoided it, but he did a nice 2 handed push in the back right before that big catch. The call on Crabtree on the next play was practically an admission that they got an earful from the replay officials.

[bobblehead]

The TEAM would have been farther ahead with Cook. But chalk that up to another TT screw up.

Bennett is a far superior TE. How often when we have been forced to have Bennett help out our 8th string LT do you think cook could have done it? Cook can't block. He is a glorified WR.

[mraynrand]

They only showed it once on replay then conveniently avoided it, but he did a nice 2 handed push in the back right before that big catch. The call on Crabtree on the next play was practically an admission that they got an earful from the replay officials.

He also caught a fourth down reception to keep the drive alive. The guy has skills. Would be nice to have him instead of Kendricks.

[mraynrand]

Conflicting reports "from insiders" within days after Bennett signed.
First stories said they had offered Cook more than they ended up giving Bennett, making it a virtual no-brainer for them.
The next day that was contradicted, with reports they offered Cook $6 million/ year for 3 years, and Bennett got essentially $7 million/year for 3 years.

Either way, they didn't low-ball Cook.

This is more consistent with the thinking that Cook just wanted to play elsewhere. I saw that somewhere looking for salary info but forgot the link.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Bennett is a far superior TE. How often when we have been forced to have Bennett help out our 8th string LT do you think cook could have done it? Cook can't block. He is a glorified WR.

I'll take a glorified WR who was as productive downfield against safeties as Cook was last year.

Your proclamation that Bennett is "far superior" conflicts with Bennett's play so far. So who do I believe, you or my own lying eyes?

It is still early, Bennett heroics may await.

[Maxie the Taxi]

I squat with the Blue Dog!

[mraynrand]

They only showed it once on replay then conveniently avoided it, but he did a nice 2 handed push in the back right before that big catch. The call on Crabtree on the next play was practically an admission that they got an earful from the replay officials.

P.S. Crabtree pushed off on the game-tying TD as well. Maybe not as egregious and/or the officials were tired of calling penalties on every play/wanted to make it safely past Marshawn Lynch to their cars in the parking lot.