Martellus Bennett was released by the Green Bay Packers on Thursday. The team claimed it released him for failing to disclose a shoulder injury, which sets the Packers up to potentially reclaim a significant sum in remaining prorated signing bonus money, per ESPN.
Since then, Bennett has had a former Packers teammate throw him under the bus.
He has also been picked up off waivers by the New England Patriots, which caused many to speculate he had scammed the Packers all along just to get back to the Pats after Aaron Rodgers’ injury submarined Green Bay’s season.
Bennett responded to Green Bay’s claim that he never disclosed an injury. And he’s not happy.
“The Packers examined my shoulder on my visit March 10 and cleared it. They even gave me an X-ray as well,” he wrote, per Stephen Watson of WISN 12 News. “It got worse during the season, especially against the Cowboys so I asked to have it checked and we checked it. After a few days of contemplating to play with it or get surgery, I chose surgery. Now here we are… They tried to f– over me. Dr. McKenzie trying to cover his own a–. After trying to persuade me to play through a major injury and me choosing to get surgery. Dr. McKenzie didn’t make me feel safe and was pushing to play which I thought was weird. Not that he was trying to get me to play thru it but the way he was saying things. I didn’t trust him. So I got 3 other opinions from doctors who all said I needed to get it fixed. So I decided to do that. And they decided to waive me with some bulls– excuse. Failure disclose.”
Interestingly, Bennett was cleared to practice Friday with the Patriots.
Martellus Bennett, who arrived in NE with a torn rotator cuff, passed his physical and was at practice. He didn’t practice for 2 weeks in GB https://t.co/XMtj3Z3J2R
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 10, 2017
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media has reported Bennett has a torn rotator cuff and that he might try to play through it in New England.
Just reported on @gmfb: The #Packers waived TE Martellus Bennett because of a torn rotator cuff, per sources. He may try to play through it, but if he cannot, the #Patriots could put him on Injured Reserve. No risk for them.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 10, 2017
This statement from Bennett is likely a direct response to any potential financial battle that is upcoming between the Packers and himself. We’ve definitely not heard the last about all this.