There's a new Bennett in town. While Patriots' fans are well familiar with Martellus Bennett for his vibrant personality and for helping the team win a Super Bowl in 2016, it's time to get to know his older brother Michael who reporters got their first look at on Tuesday at day one of mandatory minicamp.
"He tried to give me advice," Michael said of his brother Martellus, "but big brothers don't take advice from little brothers," he joked with reporters.
The 33-year-old veteran was not present at the OTAs session that was open to the media in May, so today was the first time members of the media were able to see Bennett in a Patriots uniform. While the defensive end may be new to New England, to him, the Patriots defense is familiar.
"When I was a young kid, I used to always like watching the Patriots play on defense," Bennett said. "Growing up, Richard Seymour was one of my favorite players. To think that I get to walk in the locker room that he played in, it's an honor."
Though it's been over a decade since Bennett was able to watch Seymour play in the Patriots system, now that Bennett is in New England, he notices that what made the Patriots defense successful then, is the same now.
"You see a lot of hard-nosed football. It's a lot of guys who are technically and fundamentally sound. I think that's what makes this team one of the best in the NFL."
Learning a new defensive playbook is not foreign to Bennett. He's played 10 seasons in the NFL for five different teams and won a Super Bowl in 2014. Foxborough is new territory for the Bennett, but through his career in the NFL, he knows what makes players thrive in this league.
"I know how to succeed. Just listen and do your job. That's how you succeed."
It's that attitude that will make Bennett's transition to New England seamless. Although this is Bennett's first minicamp as a Patriot, when asked about the differences of this minicamp to others, Bennett said they are all the same.
"You get to spend time with your teammates and get to know them more and learn each other. I think that is the most important thing about minicamp."
