Packers to appeal Bennett's signing bonus grievance ruling

The Green Bay Packers will appeal an arbitrator's decision to award Martellus Bennett his signing bonus after the tight end was released with a "failure to disclose injury" designation, team president Mark Murphy said in a Q-and-A with fans Saturday.

The Packers began to recoup a portion of Bennett's $6.3-million signing bonus in November, but an arbitrator ruled he deserved to keep the money.

Murphy was asked if the Packers have an option to appeal the ruling.

"I really can't get into the details, but we think the decision was flawed and plan to appeal," Murphy wrote. "The appeals go to a panel of three arbitrators."

Bennett caught 24 passes for 233 yards through seven games with the Packers in 2017 after signing a three-year contract. After being released, the New England Patriots claimed him off waivers and Bennett discovered he had a torn rotator cuff and labrum. Bennett claimed the Packers lied when they said he didn't disclose the injury, resulting in the legal battle.

Murphy told ESPN's Rob Demovsky that the Packers lost the case in part because the Patriots claimed Bennett, so they picked up the entire contract despite the "failure to disclose injury" designation.

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