Former Cowboys Tight End Martellus Bennett Was Just too Metrosexual For Dallas

By Eric Nicholson Wed., Sep. 26 2012 at 1:03 PM

The Cowboys nabbed Martellus Bennett in the second round of the 2008 draft with hopes that the 6-foot-6 tight end would be good to have on the other side of the formation from Pro Bowler Jason Witten. That never really came to pass, and Bennett was written off as a disappointment.

It was a surprise, then, when Bennett, having signed with the New York Giants during the off-season, began playing extremely well. He caught two touchdowns during his first two games, two more than he caught over the previous three years, and racked up a respectable 112 yards.

So while sportswriters here second-guess the Cowboys' decision to let Bennett get away, Giants fans are trumpeting their vision for plucking a gem from their arch-rival's grasp.

Let's be honest, though. As physically talented and lovably irreverent as Bennett was, he sucked hard when he was a Cowboy. I'm only a casual fan, but I would cringe when he stepped onto the field, knowing that a dropped pass was a play or two away. Bennett's transformation is a mystery. Were there injuries? Was he just not focused? Was it the team's chemistry?

All of those may have played a part, but Bennett offers something of a different explanation in a New York Times profile (hat-tip to Texas Monthly).

In Dallas, Bennett says, he never was truly at ease.
People would say to him, "'You're a metrosexual' because I dress nicely or because my favorite thing to take pictures of is our outfits," Bennett says. "I like art, photography, film -- all that creativity."

He hesitates before saying, "I don't think people here are as judgmental as back in Texas."

He laughs because he knows he is not alone here. New York is filled with people who wear fedoras, filled with people who crave color and culture and something more than 8 yards on third-and-7. In New York, there are visionary architects everywhere.

Bennett reaches the car. "It's one of the first places I've been in my life," he says, hand on the door handle, "where I really, honestly, feel like I belong."

Marty B is obviously 100-percent right. There are no metrosexuals in Dallas, and we hate creativity almost as much as we love football. I can't speak for everyone, but I'm happy that Bennett has found success and inner peace with the Giants. He deserves it. But let's just see how welcoming New York feels when he starts dropping those third-and-7 passes.

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Myrna.Minkoff-Katz topcommenter

Anyone who has transplanted from a city back East would find Texans quite close-minded and intolerant of nonconformity; of differences in culture and opinion. I have.

ScottsMerkin topcommenter

1 Like

@Myrna.Minkoff-Katz nah, its just the arrogant smug douchbaggery asswipes who try to tell people how much better the Northeast is than here that we become intolerant of. If its that much better why do you remain here

Myrna.Minkoff-Katz topcommenter

@ScottsMerkin I'll give just one example. Every time I express an alternative opinion on this comment board your posse comes swooping down to bash me with unrepeatably nasty, foul language; then your editor threatens to censor me.

Myrna.Minkoff-Katz topcommenter

@Scruffygeist That just about says it. A lot of you people cannot stand anyone who has an opinion that doesn't agree with yours.

Scruffygeist topcommenter

@Myrna.Minkoff-Katz Maybe when your alternative opinions aren't also terrible, contrarian opinions you won't hear a peep.

Myrna.Minkoff-Katz topcommenter

@ScottsMerkin My two Siamese males got into another fight just now. I think they're vying for alpha status. They're sitting there staring at me with contempt.

ScottsMerkin topcommenter

@Myrna.Minkoff-Katz fair enough, Ive just never seen them here. I prolly havent read every comment of yours.

Myrna.Minkoff-Katz topcommenter

@ScottsMerkin Wrong. I've posted many, many positive comments about the state and Dallas. You've just obsessed on my honestly expressed critiques about what I see lacking in this area. I think you're overly sensitive and you overreact.

ScottsMerkin topcommenter

1 Like

@Myrna.Minkoff-Katz and Ill repeat my example of people we are intolerant of

"nah, its just the arrogant smug douchbaggery asswipes who try to tell people how much better the Northeast is than here that we become intolerant of"

seems from all your comments since you joined that you fit right in that group that only has shitty things to say about us so of course you get intolerant retorts

Myrna.Minkoff-Katz topcommenter

@ScottsMerkin Scotty, get real. You can't deny that people in these parts are close-minded and intolerant, can you?

ScottsMerkin topcommenter

1 Like

@Myrna.Minkoff-Katz I am denying it. You cant make a blanket statement about all people here, because they are not. Im a transplant and have never had a problem with how people think here. Do I agree with everything, no but just bc its not the exact same as it was from where I came, im not sitting around bitching about it. Its funny that you think Texans are so intolerant yet you are the one who seems to be intolerant of anything texas or anytihng people here have to say.

JustSaying

Marty B is a knucklehead but he was not even close to the level of stupidity that Dez has reached. Bennett sucked with the Cowboys because they didnt use him. We all saw the Hard Knocks where he clearly wasnt liked by the tight ends coach. The same coach that is Jason Garrett's fucking brother. To me, that illustrates how behind the times Garrett is. DId anyone watch the NFL last year? The Patriots with Hernandez and Gronk. The Saints with Graham. A giant, athetic tight end is virtually unguardable. And we had one that is 6'6. I bet Eli's dick got hard when they signed Bennett. Say what you want about him being too immature but sit back and watch what a weapon he is for the Giants. I know I hated to see the guy go.

NotAnon

1 Like

@JustSaying Please don't be "that" revisionist guy. There is a prototype athlete for some position getting cut today. Prototype, tall, athetic, fast, etc players are stocking Home Depots all over the country. Just because Marty looks great on paper doesn't mean he can play. Do you forget the balls bouncing off his helmet, his interceptions? Yes his interceptions, he actually had balls bounce from both palms into defenders hands twice in the last two years. The grass is greener after a couple of weeks and a almost two hundred whole yards- just wait until mid-november when balls start bouncing off his face on 3rd and 7.

JustSaying

@NotAnon

There is nothing "revisionist" about my opinion. I have been saying it since they signed him. He was a monster in college. He was the best blocking tight end by far that the Cowboys had. Sure, he had some drops. That was the immaturity. He didnt go all out because he knew that he was never going to get the ball and was genuinely surprised when it came his way. Sure, a smarter player would have sucked it up, played hard on every down, and tried to make himself a higher option on the food chain. But everyone knows that he would never become the first look for Romo at tight end. I dont think that his first 2 games in NY were a fluke. He is invested in the team now. And Eli, as much as it pains me to say it, has become pretty damn good at going through his reads and getting it to the right guy. Eli has his Hernandez/Graham and we have a hopefully just slumping Witten and John Phillips.

I never understood why the Cowboys never instituted a goal line play for Bennett. How many red zone field goals over the past few seasons did they settle for? Are you telling me that a jump ball to the tallest guy on the field wasnt worth a shot?

I think Bennett sealed his fate amongst many Cowboy fans with his youtube videos. Mix those with his lack of stats on the field and the fans turned on him. Full disclosure: I thought the black olympics clip was fucking hilarious.

TexOHara

2 Like

Perhaps Coach Coughlin will encourage Bennett's creativity, and entice him to revive his amateur rap career on Youtube.

TheCredibleHulk topcommenter

...puttin' on aires...

rowingisfun

I love cap'n crunch

Joshjuststruckoutagain

I got Iphong money, Jerry Jone money!!!

MBM9

@rowingisfun

For breakfast or for lunch......

Its my favorite kind of munch.....

Scruffygeist topcommenter

2 Like

Nobody here is second-guessing the Cowboys not making him an offer because Marty B is a Grade A Moron. Dude isn't smart enough to be great and wanted to coast on ego, arrogance, and athleticism alone.

James080

2 Like

@Scruffygeist Three games doesn't make a career. He is playing better though. It's possible Marty matured, but I doubt it based on his NYT comments. Maybe it was just the fact that when the Cowboys cut him, for the first time in his life his athletic gifts and size weren't enough to offset his lack of effort and focus.

Edgar

2 Like

I don't know...he performed better in College Station (not exactly the cradle of cosmopolitanism) than in Dallas. And if wearing fedoras means loving color and culture, brand me a philistine.

ChrisYu topcommenter

perfect Eric. don't think those tolerant artistic type are season ticket holders up there. and let's not forget Marty B's stupid Papa John's commercial.