Feb. 24--Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace offered little clarity about veteran tight end Martellus Bennett's status Wednesday morning.
"We recognize he's a talented, well-rounded tight end," Pace said at the NFL scouting combine. "Again, he's under contract, so right now our focus is on guys who are out of contract. You can categorize them in two different areas, and he's in the other area right now."
With two years left on his contract last April and coming off his first career Pro Bowl, Bennett made clear his desire for a new deal and skipped voluntary offseason practices. He is scheduled to make $5.1 million in 2016.
Bennett, who turns 29 in March, earned the coaching staff's praise last season for quickly picking up the new offense after he reported and for his willingness to block. In November, though, his frustration about his role in the red-zone offense surfaced during a practice, according to multiple sources. Soon, Bennett was placed on injured reserve with a broken rib, ending a season of modest production.
Pace indicated Wednesday the Bears are in no rush to change the status quo. With Bennett under contract, the trade market for tight ends will firm up after free agency in March and the draft in late April.
"Really with him, he's under contract," Pace said. "We have a lot of players that aren't under contract, so that's where our focus is right now."
