LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett ended his offseason boycott and participated in the club's mandatory minicamp Tuesday, but he did not deny that he wants a new contract.
"I'm always working on a new contract. All sides of business," Bennett said.
Bennett has two years left on a deal he signed with Chicago in March 2013. The Pro Bowl tight end is scheduled to earn a $4.9 million base salary in 2015 and $5.085 million in 2016.
"I think that everybody, even you guys, should be lobbying for new contracts," Bennett said. "If your performance is at a high level and you're playing to a high level, then you want to be compensated for the level that you play at.
"I think for most people, the idea of being in a contract for not as long as they think you should because of what's socially acceptable to the community of football, I think that's where people get into, 'Oh, there's two years left.' But most people don't honor their damn phone contract -- they switch from Sprint to T-Mobile. So I mean it's just like being in an apartment and getting out of your lease because you want to find a better apartment or something better."
Bennett refused to acknowledge whether he asked the Bears for a trade, but said he does expect to report to training camp in late July with the rest of his teammates, barring an unforeseen change which Bennett concedes is possible.
"Yeah [I plan to be at camp]," Bennett said. "[But] there is always a possibility [I won't be at camp]. I take it one day at a time."
After missing all three weeks of OTAs, Bennett began the process of learning the new playbook Monday. The tight end caught a career-best 90 passes for 916 yards and six touchdowns in 2014, but the Bears changed offensive coordinators in the offseason, hiring Adam Gase in January.
However, quarterback Jay Cutler predicts it won't be too long until Bennett is completely up to speed.
"He's super-smart," Cutler said. "It's going to come pretty quickly. He was out there doing some plays that we were going to hold him back from but he picks things up so quickly."
Cutler said he understands Bennett's decision to stay away from the team the last two-plus months.
"I think he wanted to be here," Cutler said. "All of us reached out to him at certain points throughout the offseason. He wanted to be here. There is a business side to this and he feels passionate about his position. So it is what it is. We're happy he's here right now and will continue working with him when he's here."
Bears coach John Fox added: "I thought he had a good first practice and I'm pleased with his progress."