Drew Bennett Apparent Winner In Wide Receiver Tryout

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 24, 2009 4:41 PM EDT

Former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Drew Bennett is the apparent winner in today's tryout at the Baltimore Ravens Training Complex in Owings Mills, Maryland. Bennett, who last played for the St. Louis Rams in 2008, was one of reportedly four wideouts that were brought in to see if they still had what it takes to play in the NFL. The possibilitiy of Derrick Mason, the Ravens leading receiver in 2008, making his retirement official sparked the need to look elsewhere for help, despite the young players already on the team's roster seemingly willing to step up in his place.

Bennett was taken away after the tryout for a team physical, seemingly for taking the next step towards signing a contract to join the team in 2009 and possibly beyond. Many people said that the team needed WR help even long before Mason made his surprising retirement announcement shortly after the death of one of his best friend and former teammate on the Titans and Ravens, Steve McNair..

Bennett is 30 years old and although he didn't make an impact on the Rams the last two years, is a tall target (6'5") and had a great season in 2004 when he caught over 80 passes for well over 1,000 yards in Tennessee. His size and hands could be a welcome addition to the Ravens, although their younger players waiting in the wings (Demetrius Williams, Marcus Smith, Justin Harper) have to be dismayed at this news. Bennett will still have to prove in Training Camp beginning next week, that he deserves to start ahead of those guys, and alongside of Mark Clayton. At the same time, if Derrick Mason does change his mind and decides to return for his 13th NFL season, then Clayton and Bennett will fight it out to see who is the #2 or #3 wideout on the depth chart.

Things just got a little more interesting in Ravens camp. See my earlier post this week comparing Drew Bennett's stats with the other players that the Ravens were looking at.

Post Publish Note: The Ravens have signed Drew Bennett to the veteran minimum salary, according to ProFootballTalk.com and the Carroll County Times .Click here to see the story. In addition, the two other wide receivers brought in for the tryout were Chris Hannon and Justin Brown (neither of whom I could find any info on at NFL.com).

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although their younger players waiting in the wings (Demetrius Williams, Marcus Smith, Justin Harper) have to be dismayed at this news.

If they can’t beat out an aging Bennett, who hasn’t contributed for two years, then they wouldn’t help us even if we didn’t sign Bennett.

Depth is the key here.

by DT711 on Jul 24, 2009 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

True, but...

…if Mason also comes back, then that gives us him, Clayton, Bennett and then perhaps some playing time, but not much to DWill or Marcus Smith and virtuallly nothing to Justin Harper, who figures to get cut or put on the Practice Squad at best.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 24, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

C'Mon

If Marcus Smith and D-Will are even part of what we think they can be, is an aging Drew Bennett really going to keep them off the field?

Just b/c Bennett started in the past does not mean he will automatically jump those guys on the depth chart. My assertion is that if they can’t get any playing time with Bennett, then they wouldn’t have been helpful with out him.

I mean, you, I and others have hopes for Smith (and D-Will if healthy) eventually being solid#2 WR’s. If they are unable beat out an aging Bennett who has a very late start learning the playbook, they probably won’t amount to anything.

Competition is a good thing. Its not like we signed a sure thing (Boldin) who would unquestionably hop everyone on the depth chart. If they are the real deal, they will be fine.

I would not concede their PT yet, and I doubt they are either.

by DT711 on Jul 24, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Also

Injuries happen every year. They will still get a chance to shine at some point. It’s all about stepping up when the opportunity arises.

by DT711 on Jul 24, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess we'lll see

when I go to camp on Tuesday, I’ll see who’s running w/ the first team, etc. and let you all know in my daily reports.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 24, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Sounds Good

by DT711 on Jul 24, 2009 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Great sign

Big, reliable guy who has shown he can get it done……even if it was when he was 24 years old. He should be a solid #3 guy and can bring some veteran help to one of the youngest WR groups in the league.

Looks like the Marcus Smith days are numbered…..

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 24, 2009 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

If Smith can’t beat out an aging Bennett, who hasn’t contributed for two years, then Smith wouldn’t help us even if we didn’t sign Bennett.

I am confident that Smith will still get it done in some capacity. I think the signing of Bennett is more insurance in case the young guys don’t cut it.

by DT711 on Jul 24, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

who were the other guys

I know hackett was one but who were the other 2?

FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Benji5203 on Jul 24, 2009 2:37 PM EDT reply actions

Was Joe Horn there? We all heard the rumors, but I am unsure if he was. No idea who the 4th would be though.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 24, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

horn didn't try out

his agent was told by ozzie that they’d be in contact following the friday tryouts. So, I’m guessing, Ozzie was in “oh crap” mode about these receivers and probably worried about Bennett/Hackett not panning out, so he was like "I better get Joe Horn on the phone just in case, b/c i know he’s tough and i know he’ll catch what hits his hands.

by jackmca on Jul 25, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Yea, but

If there is a tough WR out there who has great hands, we will not get him. Joe Horn did that cell phone thing, so it affects his character and can’t be a Raven.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 25, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Or maybe its that hes almost 40 years old

And hasn’t done a damn thing in the NFL for over two year.

by DT711 on Jul 26, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Chris Hannon and Justin Brown

were the other two guys.. they also tried out a rooke LB and QB.. check it out on baltimoreravens.com

by ravsagain on Jul 24, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

too funny. another Titan who will get a second wind and help us beat them…I love it. everything Tenn. does no matter how long ago always blows up in their face. from mason to rolle, to the Billick video, to the stolen playbook. i had a gut feeling bennett is the best one. he’s familiar with the AFC North and he’s had big numbers and kniows what is required to get them again. tangibles our young group doesn’t have. 30 is prime.

by raven on Jul 24, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Do I sense optimism?

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 24, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

he’s not one of our drafted receivers so i have much hope.

by raven on Jul 24, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Naw I'd say troy will be Flacco's

Favorite target @ Heinz.

by steelerstyle on Jul 24, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

one of the best points i’ve heard yet:

he’s familiar with the AFC North and he’s had big numbers and kniows what is required to get them again. tangibles our young group doesn’t have.

by jackmca on Jul 25, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

shit, take Horn too. he’ll be cheap.

by raven on Jul 24, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

Bennett and Horn would be a great addition.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 24, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

spare us the PR and just dump marcus and dwill now. marcus because he’s 60% hype and Dwill because he’s as tough as Tito Jackson.

by raven on Jul 24, 2009 2:44 PM EDT reply actions

I bet you wouldn’t say that to Tito’s Face though. Lol

FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Benji5203 on Jul 24, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

no way, Tito’s face might melt on me

by raven on Jul 24, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Benji5203 on Jul 24, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

What's wrong w/ tito

and don’t even go there on this site by saying anything about the Greatest Entertainer The World Has Ever Known – Michael Jackson (R.I.P.).

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 24, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

michael probably beat tito's @$$

by jackmca on Jul 25, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

kidding…a little

by raven on Jul 24, 2009 2:47 PM EDT reply actions

have youe seen the promos for the new movie Weekend At Michaels where they wheel Michael around on a dolly pretending he’s not dead to save Neverland from an evil villain played by Dan Snyder?

by raven on Jul 24, 2009 5:27 PM EDT reply actions

Sounds good.

Michael Bay directing it?

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 24, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

no…Bubbles the monkey is.

by raven on Jul 24, 2009 6:48 PM EDT reply actions

Mason ‘tried out’ for the Browns but wasnt impressive enough to get an offer earlier this offseason

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Jul 26, 2009 12:17 AM EDT reply actions

Actually, you've got it backwards

he was too good and they didn’t want to raise the team’s fans’ expectations by actually bringing in somebody good!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jul 26, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

He wouldnt have made our roster

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Jul 26, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Only our wash-ups come and play for you. IE Gary Baxter, Jamal Lewis, Dave Zastidul, Darnell Dinkins, Corey Ivy, and the all so great, the best QB to ever walk, the “How the hell could the Ravens get rid of him, what a DUMB franchise”………….Derrick Anderson.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jul 26, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions