Packers Plan To Go After TE Martellus Bennett’s Signing Bonus

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Packers do, in fact, intend to go after TE Martellus Bennett‘s signing bonus.

Although, Rapoport says that it’s unclear if the Packers will seek repayment of the entire $6.3 million signing bonus or the $4.2 million prorated portion that was included in the three-year, $21 million contract they agreed to this past March.

It was clear that this could be a possibility after Green Bay waived Bennett with a failure to disclose injury designation last week.

The Packers will have to prove that Bennett has a preexisting condition that he didn’t disclose to the team before he was signed.

Bennett is dealing with a torn rotator cuff and other labrum damage in his shoulder, according to Rapoport.

The plan for Bennett was for him to undergo surgery while he was playing for the Packers. However, he is now expected to suit up for the Patriots after they claimed him off of waivers.

Apparently, Bennett’s shoulder issues aren’t bad enough to prevent him from playing this season, provided the right incentive.

Rapoport points out that normally going after a player’s signing bonus would be an unpopular move within the locker room, but given how things played out with Bennett, it’s unlikely this would cause much issue in Green Bay.

Bennett, 30, is a former second-round pick of the Cowboys back in 2008. He’s currently in the first year of his three-year, $21 million contract and stands to make base salaries of $3.6 million and $5.65 million over the next two years of the agreement.

The Packers elected to waive Bennett with a failure to disclose medical condition designation on Wednesday.

In 2017, Bennett has appeared in seven games and caught 24 passes for 233 yards receiving and no touchdowns for the Packers.