Bennett retires, Flacco unsure about a Mason return

Only two days after signing a deal with the Ravens, Drew Bennett has retired after his knee “flared up” over the weekend.

Bennett, who signed a one-year deal for the league minimum, participated in a four-receiver workout on Friday that also included D.J. Hackett.

Bennett, who’s 6′5″ with good hands, would have provided veteran leadership to a receiving corps that lost its top receiver.  The current group of top four receivers (Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams, Kelley Washington and Marcus Smith) had 55 receptions in 2009.

According to the Baltimore Sun, QB Joe Flacco talked to Derrick Mason, who announced his retirement two weeks ago.  Although Flacco says that he didn’t try to talk him out of retirement, he let Mason know that he’s wanted.

“I told him, ‘Whatever decision you make, it’s your decision.’ I let him know how much we want him and how much he means to the team. I just want to make sure he understood how much we appreciate him being around.”

Last week, Mason spoke with coach John Harbaugh, who is “optimistic and hopeful” that Mason is going to return for another season.

Mason, who has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons, said at the time of his retirement: “… Emotionally I am just not that enthused. I have not been that enthused to get up and work out…it was getting to that point. …”

However, the loss of his friend and former teammate Steve McNair is surely weighing on his mind as his contract situation may be as well.  Mason claims it’s not about the money, but what athlete comes out and says that it is about the money.

With tight end L.J. Smith, who signed a one-year contract this off-season, feeling healthy again, the Ravens waived tight end Quinn Sypniewski.

So, who’s going to be the next ex-Titans receiver to retire from the Ravens?

Tags: Derrick Mason, Drew Bennett, L.J. Smith, Quinn Sypniewski