Martellus Bennett says he refused to get carted off field after hurting ankle because it’s not what Luke Cage would do

The superhero inspired him to come back.

Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett was removed from Sunday’s 33–13 win over the Browns during the team’s first drive after tweaking his right ankle while blocking for LeGarrette Blount on the goal line. But thanks to some inspiration from Luke Cage, he returned.

Not only did he return, he managed to turn in a six-catch, three-touchdown performance, tallying 67 yards through the air. 

According to Bennett, he was just channeling his inner Cage. He was even offered a cart, to assist him in getting off the field, but he declined because that wasn’t very Cage-like.

Here’s what he said after the game, from Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald:

“S--t hurts. You lay down for a second. You feel sorry for yourself then you think of all the people who are counting on you on the field and off the field, and you just find a way suck it up and go out there and play for those guys. That’s what it’s really about. I didn’t want to let my teammates down. A lot of stuff we worked on in practice counted on both of us being out there, so I had to figure out a way to go back out there and play with my teammates.

“They asked me if I needed a cart and I'm like, ‘S--t, I’m going to look so weak.’ I’ve been watching Luke Cage. He’s the bulletproof brother from Marvel, and I’m like, ‘What would Luke Cage do right now?’ He’d get up and keep bouncing around, so I was like, ‘I’ve got to get up and show them, get a moment, just run off the field and let them know I’m coming back in the game.’”

Pretty incredible. I suppose we should all begin watching this show on Netflix if we haven’t already.

– Kenny Ducey