NFL teams
Jeff Dickerson, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Martellus Bennett moves on from contract chase

NFL, Chicago Bears

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett said Thursday that he is no longer worried about his contract, a stark contrast to comments he made in June, when he actively pushed for a new deal.

"I'm not even worried about a contract right now," Bennett said. "It's just business. I have no hard feelings against anybody.

"Some business deals go the way you want. Some -- I have several business deals this offseason that worked and didn't work out. For me it's just another business deal, and then that's just the way it is. Some deals get done, some don't. Still got to come to work and do my job."

Bennett, 28, sang a different tune at the Bears' mandatory three-day minicamp in June after his efforts to secure a new contract by skipping the voluntary offseason program proved to be unsuccessful.

"I'm always working on a new contract. All sides of business," Bennett told reporters. "I think that everybody, even you guys, should be lobbying for new contracts. 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."

Bennett, who made his first Pro Bowl last season, has two years left on his contract and is scheduled to earn a 2015 base salary of $4.9 million. He will collect $5.085 million in the final year of his deal.

Bennett's push for a new deal came after he led tight ends last year with 90 receptions and set career highs in receiving yards (916) and touchdowns (six).

However, the Bears underwent massive front-office and coaching staff changes at the end of last year. General manager Ryan Pace and coach John Fox refused to extend player contracts until the new staff got a better feel for the roster; Bennett's decision to miss the eight-week offseason program prevented that familiarity from happening.

Still, Bennett said he remains confident that whatever he missed in the offseason can be overcome.

"I mean, they got all season to get to know me. I'm available. So I think they have a grasp for who I am," Bennett said. "It's Day 1 again, so everybody starts all over again. Some terminology, and still learning some things like that, but overall I think everybody is starting all over again. I don't think anyone has the offense down. I may be a leg behind, but I'm a pretty quick learner."

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