April 30--The Chicago Bears finished their three-day voluntary minicamp at Halas Hall on Thursday morning. And as it ended, new coach John Fox already was being probed about potential off-the-field drama.
Tight end Martellus Bennett remained absent from the team, amid reports the Bears are at least listening to trade offers for him. Bennett, with two years left on the four-year, $20.4 million deal he signed in 2013, would like a new deal as a reward for the 90-catch, 916-yard, six-touchdown season that sent him to the Pro Bowl last year.
Fox hasn't seemed outraged by Bennett's absence from this week's practice but is also far from pleased.
"Again," Fox said, "I've talked to him. And I know where he is. But like I've said, with anybody who's not here, I'd prefer they be here. But he's part of our football team. And we'll leave it at that."
When asked if he saw Bennett as part of the Bears' long-term plans, Fox shrugged.
"That's kind of a tough question to answer," Fox said. "On anybody. I don't know yet. We're still evaluating practice and this was our first start and our first opportunities (to do that) over this week."
But with Bennett not on the practice field, how can Fox know exactly what he has in the talented tight end?
"It's a good question," he said.
Fox said he expected Bennett to be with the team after the NFL draft ends this weekend, even with all the trade speculation swirling. How things play out remains to be seen.
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