| Name |
Martellus Bennett |
| Height |
6 ft 6 in |
| Naionality |
American |
| Date of Birth |
10-March-1987 |
| Place of Birth |
Alief, Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Famous for |
Football Player |
Martellus Bennett is an American football tight end for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Texas A&M. He is the brother of Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Michael Bennett.
Bennett was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (61st overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. According to Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones, Bennett was selected not because they needed a backup tight end, but to "add a new dimension" by being part of a two tight end offense. In the 2008 preseason, Bennett learned technique from tight end Jason Witten. During the preseason camps, the documentary series Hard Knocks initially portrayed Martellus as a lazy and unmotivated player. Although Bennett was initially having trouble learning the Cowboys' offense, he worked hard to improve, as later episodes of Hard Knocks showed. Bennett agreed to a four-year contract with the team on July 24. He was given the No. 2 tight end position over Tony Curtis. Bennett finished his rookie season with 20 receptions for 283 yards and four touchdowns. In his second season, Bennett compiled only 15 catches for 159 yards and no touchdowns. In a January 2010 news conference following the season, Jerry Jones indicated that while Bennett has breakout potential, he needs to put in the focus to meet it. Despite a left ankle sprain in the preseason, he responded in 2010 with a career high 33 catches, but for only 260 yards and no touchdowns. Bennett raised some eyebrows during a radio interview when he stated that backup quarterback Jon Kitna deserved a chance to compete for the starting quarterback job after filling in for the injured Tony Romo during the 2010 season. He had an injury plagued preseason in 2011, with an injured hamstring and right high ankle strain keeping him out of two out of four preseason games. He is expected to miss the season opener, as well. Bennett is a friend of former Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett. After Everett's career-ending neck injury in 2007, Bennett chose to honor Everett by wearing his jersey number for two games during his 2007 junior season at Texas A&M.
He is also known for his sense of humor. As a Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter put it, Bennett "had more memorable quotes than memorable catches at Texas A&M". After being drafted by the Cowboys, Bennett stated, when referring to incumbent quarterback Tony Romo: "Any quarterback that can get Jessica Simpson, I’ve got to play with him". The Cowboys addressed his comment shortly afterwards. During an interview at the NFL Combine, when asked about his interest in both basketball and football, he responded: "Football is my wife and basketball is my mistress".
