ALBANY, N.Y. -- Former Dallas Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett wants a piece of his old team when the Super Bowl-champion New York Giants open the season against their NFC East rival Sept. 5.
To be blunt, Bennett wants to show the Cowboys what they're missing.
"That is what it is all about," Bennett said Thursday after arriving at his first Giants training camp. "I mean we are cool, but we ain't that cool, know what I am saying? I kind of got some ill feelings toward them overall. It is a game. I kind of hate everybody, honestly, in the NFL."
Bennett signed with the Giants as a free agent after spending his first four seasons as Jason Witten's backup in Dallas.
With New York, Bennett comes to a team where he will have a chance to start. Jake Ballard and his backup, Travis Beckum, both suffered ACL injuries in the Super Bowl. Ballard was claimed by New England after New York waived him, and Beckum will open the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
"I have ill feelings toward everybody," Bennett later clarified. "It is not just Dallas. Pretty much anybody who doesn't play with us, I pretty much don't like them. I don't like a lot of people."
Bennett, who caught 85 passes for 846 yards and four touchdowns with the Cowboys, is grateful to Witten, however.
"He is one of the best to ever do it. I learned a lot from him," Bennett said. "Every once in a while, plants can't really grow when they are out-shaded by the tall tree. So, I get a little sunlight for myself now."
Bennett suffered a hamstring injury after signing with New York and missed some work in Organized Team Activities and minicamp. However, he believes he is ready to go.
"For me it was never an issue with playing ability or being able to make plays," said Bennett, 25. "It really is about being happy and being at peace with myself. I am at peace with myself. I am not at peace with everybody else. I have never been this hungry or this enthused about going to camp."
That's easy to tell.
