Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett did not play in the first game this past season against the Giants and caught one pass for 5 yards in the second. It was pretty much in keeping with Bennett’s disappointing production in Dallas ever since the Cowboys made him a second-round draft pick out of Texas A&M in 2008.
Despite that underwhelming four-year stay in Dallas, the Giants are bringing in Bennett for a visit, and if all goes well could sign the 25-year old to help solve their newfound lack of depth at a position that not long ago was fairly well stocked. Bennett arrived last night and will meet with the Giants today.
Bennett is likely the tight end targeted by the Giants. They envision him having a big upside, and at 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, the Giants believe he’s an athlete who can block and get downfield in the passing game.
Nevertheless, potential has overshadowed performance. Bennett had 17 receptions for 144 yards last season and in four years had just 85 receptions for 846 yards. All four of his touchdowns came as a rookie.
The need for the Giants to acquire at least one tight end came out of the Super Bowl XLVI 21-17 victory over the Patriots. In that game, Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum went down with torn anterior cruciate ligaments, and the subsequent reconstructive knee surgeries put their 2012 seasons in doubt.
Playing behind Jason Witten, Bennett never was able to flourish in the Cowboys offense, but the Giants play against him twice a season and certainly have scouted him extensively.
Bennett recently went on Pro Football Talk Live and said he desperately wants to be a go-to target in an offense.
“I want to be the No. 1 guy,’’ Bennett said. “I feel like I’m a 60-catch-plus guy so I want to be in a system where I could do [that].’’
* The Raiders yesterday released former Giants tight end Kevin Boss after one non-impact season, and he cannot deal with any other teams until this afternoon.
At this point there is no sense the Giants are interested in bringing him back.