At the end of a crazy week, Martellus Bennett explains why he came back to the Patriots

DENVER — New England, welcome back to the Martellus Bennett Experience.

The tight end, who played four snaps in Sunday’s win over the Broncos, addressed the media for the first time since he was reacquired by the Patriots on Thursday, and he didn’t disappoint. In a six-minute session with reporters after the 41-16 win over Denver, he addressed his thoughts about his departure from Green Bay, how it all came together for him to return to the Patriots, and what might have happened if he didn’t decide to come back.

Bennett said that told his agent to tell teams not to claim him off waivers because he was thinking about having shoulder surgery, the same health issue that nearly forced him onto injured reserve earlier this season.

Then, just as he settled into being a stay-at-home Dad who was contemplating taking a desk job, Bill Belichick came calling.


“At first, I told my agent no teams (should claim) me because I was still trying to get the surgery. When Bill called and said they claimed me, I was like, ‘No (expletive) way,’” recalled Bennett. “We had a quick conversation. I was just like, ‘Let me think about it. Let me call you back. … Let me just call you back in a few minutes. Let me get a chance to think about it and regroup.’ I didn’t know if I had gotten through the seven stages of grief yet. I was probably on step three.

“I had several phone calls with several different teams. I still didn’t know what to do. I felt like I should get the surgery. But at that point, after all I’ve been through, I was just like ‘All right, what the (expletive). Let’s go,’” he added. “The group of guys on this team, it couldn’t be a better place for me to be, with what I’m going through with my situation, it couldn’t be better place. All the familiar faces and friends. It’s been good to have those guys around.”

Bennett certainly ruffled some feathers in Green Bay when he took some shots at the Packers’ medical staff on his way out the door.

“It wasn’t (about the team), it was about the injury,” he said in reference to Green Bay’s approach to his shoulder issue. “I talked to six or seven doctors about it, and it could go either way. It was one of those things I felt like I should get fixed. After trying to get it fixed and getting waived, you have that vengeance in your heart. You’re just kind of like, ‘All right, if you’re going to do it, (expletive) it, let’s go ball.”

As for what the Packers may have said about him, he doesn’t seem too worried about things.

“I’ve gotten criticism from all of my former organizations,” he said with a laugh. “(Expletive). At this point, it’s like, ‘I’m rubber and you’re glue. Anything you say bounces off of me and sticks back to you.’ At this point, there’s nothing anyone can say to me at this point in my career that could make me feel any way toward myself.”

Bennett, who caught three passes for 38 yards Sunday, felt a comfort level as soon as he stepped back in the huddle.

“It was cool,” Bennett said. “A lot of familiar faces in there.”

“Marty, obviously, had been in the system for a year,” Belichick said of Bennett. “He worked really hard — he was here early, stayed late, trying to catch up on the assignments, the terms that were different from last year.

“He gave us a couple … several good plays,” he added. “The catch-and-run there, a couple times. It’s good to have him back. Good to have him contribute.”

In the end, Bennett summed up his tumultuous week in a manner unlike just about anyone else.

“Like I told the guys,” he said with a smile. “In order for the Phoenix to be reborn, he must first turn to ashes.”