Former Patriots Tight End Martellus Bennett Announces Retirement After 10 Seasons

After 10 seasons in the NFL, former New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett is trading in playbooks and schemes for coloring books and creativity.

Over the weekend Bennett, 31, took to Instagram to officially announce his retirement from the NFL.

It might not come as a surprise to some because he was hinting at retirement over the course of the 2017 season.

But in late February Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, said that Bennett wanted to continue playing and the Pats had a timely decision to make.

The Patriots eventually released Bennett on March 7, making him an unrestricted free agent.

But why is Bennett all-of-a-sudden hanging it up? Is it because of his recent hamstring and rotator cuff injuries, which ultimately landed him on Injured Reserve in 2017? Or is he really done with the game and is ready to move into a "full-time" role with his 'Imagination Agency?'

Either way, Patriots Nation certainly owes him a thank you for helping the Pats win a FIFTH Super Bowl!

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Bennett made his return to the Patriots in late November this past season following a release from the Green Bay Packers after signing a three-year, $21 million contract during the 2017 offseason.

Through two games with the Pats in 2017, he had six catches for 53 yards and zero touchdowns.

During Bennett's only full season with Tom Brady and the Patriots in 2016, he had 55 catches for 701 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns, en route to his only Super Bowl victory. Throughout the season he demonstrated that he could excel and play a critical role in a complicated Patriots offense.

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In 144 NFL career games, Bennett had 433 receptions for 4,573 yards and 30 touchdowns. The Dallas Cowboys second round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft was selected for the 2014 Pro Bowl as a member of the Chicago Bears after catching 90 balls for 916 yards and six touchdowns.

Hey! Just remember Marty B, if you're ever looking to dance with somebody, the Patriots' Cheerleaders are ALWAYS down!

Best of luck in the future and thanks for being one helluva Patriot No. 88.

--  By John 'The Dude' Hardiman, 985TheSportsHub.com