FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Bears tight end Zach Miller received a warm welcome from former teammate Martellus Bennett during the first joint practice with the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Monday.
“He snuck up behind me and gave me a hug,” Miller said.
Quarterback Jay Cutler, of course, didn’t have a similar encounter. He didn’t share a moment with Bennett.
“No, I missed that opportunity,” Cutler wryly said. “Maybe tomorrow.”
Or maybe not.
Bennett and his brother, Michael, the Seahawks’ defensive end, recently ridiculed Cutler in an ESPN article.
The Bears also traded Bennett to the Patriots because his overbearing, sometimes controversial, personality contradicted the culture change under coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace.
But Bennett, who is on his fourth team in nine seasons, hasn’t ruffled any feathers yet in New England. He is expected to speak to the media on Tuesday.
“My expectations are the same for every player,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said when asked about Bennett. “That’s to know what to do, do it with the proper technique, play hard at all times, put the team first. There are no different expectations for anybody. It’s all the same.”
This and that
Receiver Eddie Royal (concussion) and running back Ka’Deem Carey (concussion) traveled with the team, but neither fully participated in practice. … Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee (knee) also made the trip. … Tight end Zach Miller (concussion) was limited for the third consecutive day. … Former Bears linebacker Shea McClellin, who is playing multiple positions for the Patriots, was absent at practice. … The Patriots placed safety Brock Vereen, the Bears’ 2014 fourth-round pick, on the NFL’s reserve/retired list.
