 |
| A weight of 291 pounds might be a bit heavy for Bennett. (Getty Images) |
When the Giants signed tight end Martellus Bennett last March, it was partly an insurance plan because of Super Bowl injuries to Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum and partly based on Bennett’s pass-catching potential.
Unfortunately for the former Cowboys tight end, he has dealt with a hamstring injury this offseason and, um, hasn’t exactly kept in shape. So, just how out of shape is Bennett? Giants tight end coach Mike Pope said Bennett weighed in last week, and the scale spit out the number 291.
Which isn’t too bad for a quick-footed offensive lineman but not great for a tight end who believes he can makes 60 catches per season. (For the record, his listed weight is 270).
To be fair, though, it doesn’t seem like Pope sees it as an enormous problem.
“Other than the hamstring injury, he is making progress,” Pope told reporters, via Rapid Reporter Alex Raskin. “He catches on. He weighed in at 291 pounds last week. So I think that is probably a little too big for his legs to carry. We run a lot more than he might have been accustomed to.”
Bennett also had apparent work ethic problems in Dallas, so it’ll be interesting to see how much Pope can motivate Bennett in his new surroundings.
“We are in the middle of a weight program and the combination of those two things has caused him, especially, to have some problems with his hamstrings,” Pope said. “He can’t afford to miss time, either. Because he needs every possible rep he can take.”
For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, and subscribe to our Pick-6 Podcast and NFL newsletter. You can follow Josh Katzowitz on Twitter here: @joshkatzowitz.
