{"id":19919,"date":"2017-01-20T10:27:24","date_gmt":"2017-01-20T10:27:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=19919"},"modified":"2017-01-20T10:27:24","modified_gmt":"2017-01-20T10:27:24","slug":"patriots-martellus-bennett-sounds-off-steelers-antonio-brown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/patriots-martellus-bennett-sounds-off-steelers-antonio-brown.html","title":{"rendered":"Patriots Martellus Bennett sounds off on Steelers, Antonio Brown"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Patriots Martellus Bennett sounds off on Steelers, Antonio Brown<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Patriots Martellus Bennett sounds off on Steelers, Antonio Brown:-<\/strong> It was quiet and mostly uneventful when the New England Patriots opened their locker room to reporters Thursday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then tight end Martellus Bennett strolled to his stall and held court with about 35 media members.<\/span><\/p>\n

Arguably the most quotable player in this locker room offered thoughts on his team and its playoff chances, and also answered a question about how his quarterback has looked this week.<\/span><\/p>\n

Said Bennett: \u201cI don\u2019t have a Tom Brady mood ring.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He may not have that, but he does bear significant responsibility this week.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the Patriots gear up to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday evening\u2019s AFC Championship Game, Bennett figures to be one of the key players whose potential success could be instrumental in punching another trip to the Super Bowl for the Patriots.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tight end Rob Gronkowski was essential in New England\u2019s 27-16 victory in Pittsburgh back in Week 7, catching all four of his targets for 93 yards and one touchdown.<\/span><\/p>\n

With Gronkowski on injured reserve as he recovers from another back surgery, Bennett could become an integral part of the Patriot game plan Sunday, even though Pittsburgh\u2019s defense is much different now than it was then.<\/span><\/p>\n

The pass rush is surging, giving opposing quarterbacks a limited window to throw. Linebackers Bud Dupree and James Harrison \u2013 though 15 years apart \u2013 have injected consistency through their athleticism. And the secondary is peaking with rookie cornerback Artie Burns playing a larger role.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll their guys are playing (well),\u201d Bennett said. \u201cHarrison is playing well. He\u2019s almost as old as my pops, and he\u2019s still playing like a beast out there. They just have a lot of guys flying around and playing good football. I think they pursue the ball really well. They\u2019re always looking to turn the ball over. Other than that, they\u2019re just a physical front. And (defensive end Stephon) Tuitt is just a hell of a player as well. So we\u2019ll have our hands full this week.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Bennett caught 55 passes for 701 yards and a career-best seven touchdowns in the regular season.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Saturday\u2019s divisional-round victory against the Houston Texans, however, Bennett caught only one pass for 4 yards.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMarty has been such a great fit in here, man,\u201d receiver Danny Amendola told USA TODAY Sports Wednesday. \u201cAnd the thing is, some people might see his stat line and say: \u2018Oh, well, he only caught one pass so he didn\u2019t make an impact.\u2019 He gives everything he has in the blocking game. He works. He does so much that other people on the outside don\u2019t see.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

One other thing Bennett has brought to this locker room is an honest and outspoken personality that can be a relief.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just moments after the Steelers beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday\u2019s divisional \\-round playoff game, receiver Antonio Brown broadcasted a live video from the scene in the locker room, in which head coach Mike Tomlin can be heard off-camera calling the Patriots \u201ca——-.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Both Tomlin and Brown apologized for the incident, which has become one of the biggest storylines of the week.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t give a s— about his social media,\u201d Bennett said. \u201cI don\u2019t follow him. Send some followers my way, Antonio. I\u2019ve got better content.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Bennett\u2019s media sessions have become must-watch for local reporters in need of a quote. The 29-year-old veteran has reveled in the opportunity he has here.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bennett did play in two playoff games in 2009 as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, but in his interactions with the media here, he has referred to this run as his first experience in the postseason.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/nfl\/patriots\/2017\/01\/19\/martellus-bennett-new-england-pittsburgh-steelers-afc-championship-game\/96796912\/<\/span><\/div>\n

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