Bears to meet with top tight end in draft at combine

INDIANAPOLIS — One day after limiting their comments about Martellus Bennett’s future to simply stating that he was still under contract, the Bears might have moved in a direction to find his replacement. Hunter Henry, considered the best tight end in his draft class, said he has scheduled a formal interview with the team.

Henry had 51 catches for 739 yards as a junior before deciding to enter the NFL draft. He’s considered a possible late first round pick.

Like Bennett, he considers himself a tight end who can both block and catch.

“I’ve watched a lot of Jason Witten, and I really try to model my game after him,” he said Thursday of the Cowboys tight end. “He’s a great one.”

Bennett’s behavior might have earned him a ticket out of Halas Hall. Wednesday, neither GM Ryan Pace nor coach John Fox took the opportunity to endorse the tight end. He sat out last year’s offseason program in search of a reworked contract; when he didn’t receive it, he returned rather than face a fine.

While at the NFL Scouting Combine, neither Pace nor Fox would say whether Bennett might attempt the same thing this offseason.

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Email: pfinley@suntimes.com