When you’re team is coming off a Super Bowl victory and
setting out to defend the title, the offseason can be tricky. Obviously, there
aren’t many holes to fill, although it’s inevitable some players will be moving
on and need to be replaced. But when you don’t have to worry about wooing uber
free agents like Peyton Manning and Mario Williams, the blueprint is a little
clearer. There’s really just one major philosophy to adhere to: Don’t screw up
the team chemistry.
Which brings us to Martellus Bennett.
After losing both of their pass-catching tight ends – Jake
Ballard and Travis Beckum – to significant knee injuries in the Super Bowl XLVI
win over the Patriots, finding a short-term solution for the position was a key
task for Giants general manager Jerry Reese. He accomplished that goal by
signing Bennett.
The 24-year-old Bennett showed some flashes of being a
dangerous tight end in his four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. But he hasn’t
caught a touchdown pass since he scored four times as a rookie in 2008. More of
a concern, though, might be that “c” word. Bennett is not exactly a wallflower.
So how will he fit in the Big Apple?
I just wonder if Reese, when doing his research on Bennett,
happened to read this NFL.com story. It’s a quiz from by buddy Adam Rank, who challenges
readers to guess the source of some outlandish quotes – and the only two choices
are Bennett or Charlie Sheen.
You’re in the same boat as Charlie Sheen. That means you’ve
got some talent… and it also means you’re a little crazy.
The big winner here? Why it’s the New York press corps. They
no longer have running back Brandon Jacobs as a go-to guy in the Giants’ locker
room. It says here that Bennett will fill that role admirably.
If all he has to talk about is “chic farts” and Kim
Kardashian’s butt (I’m giving it away some, but just check out the NFL.com
link), then it’s all in good fun. But who knows? New York is not always a kind
media market for loose cannons.
Will Bennett be comedy relief or bad chemistry? It remains
to be seen, but when you’re the defending NFL champ, is that even a risk you
want to take?
No comments:
Post a Comment