Bennett expecting he and Gronkowski will ‘push each other'

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Martellus Bennett knew there was a chance he'd be traded. He just wasn't sure where or when it would happen. Now that it has happened -- he was dealt to the Patriots for draft-pick compensation on Wednesday -- the 29-year-old tight end is trying to remain flexible.

"I knew the possibility was coming," Bennett told reporters on Thursday. "It's just like any other thing in life, you just be prepared to make sure you flow where the wind goes. Try to be a dandelion."

In New England, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could pair Bennett with All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski to stress defenses with their hard-to-handle combination of size and athleticism. Bennett has been working out at the same gym as Gronkowski, and he knows that they could complement each other well.

"I think Gronk has always been an awesome tight end and I look forward to learning more about him," Bennett said. "There are some things that he does that I don’t do, and I’m pretty sure there are a lot of things that I do that he doesn’t do, so it’ll be a good challenge to push each other and continue to help us grow as individual players as well as a tandem to do what we can to help the team."

Bennett and Gronkowski are similar in terms of their size (both measure in at 6-foot-6), and according to Bennett, in their enthusiasm for making plays after the catch. Per Pro Football Focus, both Gronkowski and Bennett were in the top 10 among tight ends when it came to forcing missed tackles in 2015.

"We kind of have different styles as far as playing, but I think the one thing that we both love to do is run with the ball in our hands and I think for the last couple of years me and him have both been the best at that," Bennett said. "He does a lot of good things. You just look at his numbers, making big plays, to showing up every week, always being reliable for Tom [Brady] and I’m just trying to come in and do the same thing."

Bennett has made 143 catches in 27 games over the course of his last two seasons in Chicago. In 2014, he put up career-highs in receptions (90), yards (916) and touchdowns (6). 

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