Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett showed up to camp Saturday, despite whispers that might hold out for a better contract. And he had a powerful message to share about his feelings towards the organization that has employed him the past three years.
“Asked if he had thought about holding out he said ‘nope. I just want to show up and be a great teammate. No distractions for the team. I just want to be a Seahawk for the rest of my life.'” (h/t , Bob Condatta of the Seattle Times)
It’s no secret Bennett is a huge Pete Carroll fan. He recently made an eye-opening statement about the coach’s ability to connect with players of color (more on that here).
But this statement about wanting to be with the Seahawks the rest of his life is a bit surprising, given the way Bennett has been frustrated with his contract situation the past couple of seasons. Many wondered if he’d hold out of camp for a new deal, but obviously he’s not interested in going down that path.
Instead, the pass rusher says he’s focused on the upcoming season and believes the contract situation will resolve itself.
“I just want to get back to Houston, Texas and play in the Super Bowl in my hometown and play against my brother,’’ he said. “That’s all I can think about. I’m here to make that happen.
“Hopefully everything works out and you get compensated the way you play and it will be good.’’
That Bennett has reason to be frustrated is undeniable. He’s currently earning an average salary of $7.15 million, which makes him the 21-ranked defensive end in terms of average salary in the NFL. Meanwhile, players who have yet to prove themselves as consistently dominant are hauling in upwards of $17 million per year.
An invaluable piece of the puzzle for the Seahawks, Bennett can play all over the line. The past three years in Seattle, he’s racked up 25.5 sacks, and his ability to shed blockers tends to also open up opportunities for his teammates to generate pressure as well.
The Seahawks have their work cut out for them to continue keeping the roster stacked, as they are currently right below the cap, per Spotrac.com. And with so many young players in need of new contracts in the coming years, it will be a tricky puzzle for general manager John Schneider to piece together.
Bennett should be one of the players he works hard to keep, however, as he remains one of the cornerstone players for Seattle.