Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall was happy to hear that the team signed tight end Martellus Bennett as a free agent this offseason.
One of the reasons for his elation is exactly the one you’d probably expect. Marshall thinks Bennett’s addition gives the Bears passing game a much needed weapon to use in their quest for a trip to the postseason, but he also had a more personal reason to smile when Bennett came on board.
“It was tough sledding last year,” Marshall said, via ESPNChicago.com. “I think that’s why I had to have the [hip] surgery. I had 2-3 guys on me every single play, but bringing in big boy Martellus, I don’t think the league really knows how good he is. I didn’t know, and that was one of my great friends in the league. So I’m excited to see him, he’s going to be awesome this year for us.”
Bennett will certainly help lighten the load on Marshall and his hip this year. The Bears will need other receivers to step up their productivity as well if they are going to keep defenses from loading up to stop Marshall, though. It could be Alshon Jeffery or Earl Bennett or Matt Forte out of the backfield that helps make the difference, but it will have to be more than a two-man show.
