There are advantages to playing in New England that extend beyond teaming up with Tom Brady, learning from Bill Belichick, and an annual run at a Super Bowl.
For those who have interests outside of football, spending your time in the Boston area can potentially lead to opportunities that might not be available in other NFL locales. Someone like Martellus Bennett, for example, will consider all that the city has to offer could as he contemplates his future whereabouts.
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Bennett will turn 30 next month, and he's about to become an unrestricted free agent. This could be his last shot at a lucrative new contract, and though he was fighting through injuries for much of the 2016 campaign, he seemed to help his value by remaining on the field and helping the Patriots secure their fifth Lombardi Trophy.
The 6-foot-7, 275-pounder could field enticing offers from tight end-needy franchises across the league, but he tweeted on Wednesday that he likes the idea of staying put. It could have a real impact on how he builds up his brand long-term, he explained.
https://twitter.com/MartysaurusRex/status/831916215622893568
New England Patriots
Of course, Bennett can pursue his off-the-field work in any of number of places. Landing in New York or Los Angeles wouldn't hurt in that regard. But the combination of what the Patriots offer as an organization and what the area offers his future pursuits might be the best of both worlds.
When it comes to his next contract, Bennett could be looking at a deal similar to the one Panthers tight end Greg Olsen signed when he turned 30 -- three years, $22.5 million with $12 million guaranteed -- or the franchise tag, which is projected to come in at around $10 million.