Michael Bennett (Texas A&M) - Pro Football Rumors

Seahawks, Michael Bennett Agree To Extension

December 30th, 2016 at 11:03am CST by Zachary Links

Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett will sign a lucrative three-year extension with the club this morning, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. Seattle already had Bennett signed through 2017, so the new extension will take Bennett through the 2020 season, with some of the new money incorporated into ’17.

The new three-year block is worth $31.5MM with $17.5MM in guarantees, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Perhaps more importantly, the cash flow on the deal is favorable for Bennett. He’ll earn $16MM of the deal in 2017 and $19MM in total by Mar. 5 of 2018.

Bennett has been a staple in the Seahawks’ front seven for years now and had an impressive consecutive games streak of 74 until knee trouble hampered him this season. In 2016, Bennett has appeared in only ten games, but he still has four sacks and 32 total tackles to his credit. Pro Football Focus has the 31-year-old ranked as the No. 9 edge defender in the NFL this year, ahead of notables such as Chandler Jones, Jason Pierre-Paul, Jadeveon Clowney, Olivier Vernon, and James Harrison.

Vernon set a surprising standard for 4-3 defensive ends like Bennett when he signed a five-year, $85MM contract with the Giants this past offseason. Bennett is four years older than Vernon, so it makes sense that he is not getting quite as much on his new deal. Instead of $17MM/year, his $10.5MM average annual value falls closer to the $11MM/year deal that Cameron Jordan got from the Saints last year.

The Texas A&M product is currently playing on the four-year, $28.5MM deal he signed prior to the 2014 season. Bennett made headlines when he began pushing for a new contract in the spring of 2015, just one year after he signed that team-friendly pact, but Seattle refused to re-open talks. This fall, with the deal winding down, the Seahawks and Bennett’s reps came to the table.

Bennett is now the latest key Seattle player to agree to a lengthy extension with the club, keeping the team’s core intact.

NFC West Notes: Kaepernick, 49ers, Bennett

November 29th, 2016 at 11:40am CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers have a way forward with Colin Kaepernick at quarterback, Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle argues. In Miami, Kaepernick ran for 113 yards and threw for 296 more with three touchdowns against one interception. While he can’t provide that kind of production every week, Lynch sees that as a glimpse of what Kaepernick is capable of doing in Chip Kelly‘s offense. It has been widely speculated that the Niners will move on from the controversial Kaepernick in the offseason, but it’s always difficult to find a capable QB and they might not find a ton of attractive options in the spring.

Here’s more out of the NFC West:

Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett appears to be on track to return following a five-game absence, John Boyle of Seahawks.com writes. “I visited with Mike, he thinks he’s on,” coach Pete Carroll said of Bennett, who had arthroscopic knee surgery last month. “We’ve got to get all the clearance from the doctors, but the trainers think he’s in good shape and ready to go, so we’re counting on him playing. He’s very positive about it, he’s really looking forward to getting back.”
49ers general manager Trent Baalke recently praised pending free agent tight end Vance McDonald, as Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee writes. “He’s gotten much more consistent, he’s doing a good job blocking,” Baalke said. “He’s a good all-around football player, and he has a chance in this scheme to do some things, as you say, because the matchups are favorable.” Barrows notes that among NFL tight ends with at least 20 receptions, McDonald is No. 2 behind New England’s Rob Gronkowski in averaging 17.4 yards per grab. There should be a lot of changes for the 1-10 Niners in the offseason, but McDonald could be playing his way on to the 2017 team.
The Rams, Cardinals, Seahawks, and Cardinals were all on hand to watch the tryouts of two rugby stars who are hoping to transition to the NFL.

NFC West Notes: Kaepernick, Bennett, Fisher

November 27th, 2016 at 7:23pm CST by Zachary Links

With 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick likely to opt out of his contract at season’s end, Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com will be surprised if he doesn’t get a “$7M chance to start somewhere” next year (Twitter link). The 29-year-old has been solid this season, throwing for 1,144 yards, seven touchdowns, and only two interceptions. He’s also collected 260 yards on the ground. Kaepernick accounted for 409 total yards (296 passing, 113 rushing) and three scores in the 49ers’ 31-24 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.

More from the NFC West, whose four teams all lost Sunday:

Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett has lost more than $312K of his $1MM roster bonus as a result of missing five games, tweets CBS Sports’ Joel Corry. The veteran was inactive again today’s for the Seahawks’ game against his former team, Tampa Bay, and hasn’t played since Week 7. Bennett’s likely to return next week, head coach Pete Carroll said Sunday (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times).
The Rams are still declining to give an update on head coach Jeff Fisher‘s contractual status, Mike Florio of PFT writes. There has been buzz that the Rams have a deal in place with Fisher, but they are waiting until an opportune time to make it all official. Of course, after Sunday’s 49-21 loss to New Orleans, this isn’t exactly an opportune time. On the flip side, the Rams are seeing some flashes out of No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, and that could help the overall reception to a new Fisher deal. During Fisher’s four-plus years at the helm, the Rams have gone just 31-43-1, and they haven’t won more than seven games in any individual season. It appears that trend will continue this year.
Fisher made third-year offensive tackle Greg Robinson a healthy scratch for Sunday’s game. Robinson was the second overall pick in the 2014 draft and has started in 38 of 42 appearances, including 26 straight prior to Sunday, but he has nonetheless disappointed and could be on his way out of Los Angeles.

NFC West Notes: Rams, Mathieu, Seahawks

November 21st, 2016 at 9:10pm CST by Zachary Links

For months now, we have been hearing that the Rams are on the cusp of extending coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead. Lately, however, things have been quiet. Mike Florio of PFT reached out to Rams VP of football operations Kevin Demoff for comment and he said there were “no updates” to give for either of them.

Some people, according to Florio, believe that Fisher already has an extension in place but the team is waiting for the right time to announce it. Now 4-6 after losing to Miami, the Rams might want to wait a little longer.

Here’s more from around the NFC.

Cardinals GM Steve Keim thinks “there’s a good chance” safety Tyrann Mathieu plays Sunday in Atlanta (Twitter link via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com). Mathieu’s been out since October with a shoulder injury.
C.J. Prosise suffered a fractured scapula, and Pete Carroll said Monday it’s too early to tell if the rookie running back will be able to return this season, per Zac Jackson of Pro Football Talk. That malady sounding quite concerning, the Seahawks head coach did say Prosise won’t need surgery on his injured shoulder. A high-ankle sprain will sideline running back Troymaine Pope, leaving Thomas Rawls and Alex Collins as the healthy Seattle runners of the moment.
Caroll also said Sunday looms as a possible Michael Bennett return date, Tom Pelissero of USA Today tweets. Bennett’s been out since late October with a knee injury, one that snapped a games-played streak that hit 74. The Seahawks recently discussed an extension with the vocal defensive end as well, and it looks like the surging team will have his services again soon. Bennett has three sacks this season, with Cliff Avril and Frank Clark combining for 17.5.
Before signing with the Seahawks as a UDFA this year, tackle George Fant nearly signed with the Chiefs, GM John Schneider said on his radio show (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times). Fant, 24, has proven to be another strong UDFA find for Seattle, appearing in eight games and making four starts this year.
It was confirmed today Eric Reid will miss the rest of the season with a biceps tear. The 49ers safety will head into 2017 with a fifth-year option year that could well be guaranteed due to Reid’s injury status.

Sam Robinson contributed to this report

Seahawks, Michael Bennett Talking Extension

October 30th, 2016 at 8:38am CST by Rory Parks

The Seahawks are talking with Michael Bennett‘s representatives about an extension for the star defensive end, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter report that Bennett will miss the next 2-3 weeks due to a cartilage issue that will require arthroscopic knee surgery (Twitter links). Rapoport adds that the surgery will likely take place tomorrow.

Surgery notwithstanding, Rapoport rightfully points out that Bennett–whose streak of 74 consecutive regular-season games played will end today–has more than proven his value to Seattle over the last several years, and he has shown no signs of slowing down in 2016. He has been perhaps the Seahawks’ most disruptive defensive lineman this year, racking up three sacks and a team-high four tackles for loss.

Bennett signed a four-year, $28.5MM deal with the Seahawks following the 2013 campaign, which puts him on track to hit free agency following the 2017 season. The Texas A&M product made some headlines when he began pushing for a new contract in the spring of 2015, just one year after he signed that team-friendly pact, but Seattle did not seriously entertain his complaints. Now, however, it makes sense for both player and club to enter into actual negotiations.

Olivier Vernon, of course, set a surprising standard for 4-3 defensive ends like Bennett when he signed a five-year, $85MM contract with the Giants this past offseason. Vernon, though, is four years younger than the 30-year-old Bennett, who will probably receive a contract more in line with the five-year, $55MM deal that Cameron Jordan inked with the Saints last year. Either way, Bennett is in line for the substantial raise that he has been seeking ever since he put pen to paper on his last contract.

Michael Bennett Could Require Knee Surgery

October 28th, 2016 at 5:58pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett has a right knee injury that will keep him out Sunday in New Orleans and could require surgery, head coach Pete Carroll told reporters – including the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta – on Friday. Bennett’s Week 8 absence will end a streak of 74 consecutive regular-season games played that dates back to 2011, when he was with the Buccaneers.

Tests on Bennett revealed “a little cartilage deal” that “might be related” to a chop block he took from Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews in Week 6, according to Carroll. Bennett took the field for 81 snaps last Sunday in the Seahawks’ 6-6 tie with the Cardinals, but he felt discomfort that hasn’t subsided this week.

“We’re going to check him on Monday and see if there’s something we can do for him,” Carroll said. “His knee bothered him after the game coming out so we’re going to take care of him. We’ll look into seeing what’s necessary next week.”

Losing a contributor as important as the well-rounded Bennett for an extended period would be a notable blow to a Seahawks defense which is once again among the NFL’s best. During NFC West-leading Seattle’s first six games this year, in which it went 4-1-1, Bennett amassed 24 tackles, three sacks and led the club’s defensive linemen in snap percentage (84.9).

For however long the 30-year-old Bennett is out, the Seahawks will fill his void with Frank Clark and Cassius Marsh, Carroll said. Clark, a second-round pick in the 2015 draft, already has 4.5 sacks this season despite having played less than 50 percent of Seattle’s defensive snaps. Marsh has racked up two sacks in an even more limited role (29.9 percent of snaps).

Extra Points: Hester, White, Bennett, Coughlin

July 30th, 2016 at 12:31pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the NFL on this Saturday afternoon…

Devin Hester is hoping to play one more season in the NFL, and the return man told ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure that several teams have already reached out. “Teams already have tried to sign me, but I’m not ready to go,” Hester said. “We told teams that I’m not ready to practice, still rehabbing.” The 33-year-old is still recovering from offseason toe surgery. Hester was released by the Falcons earlier this week.
Roddy White isn’t looking to sign a minimum-salary contract for 2016, writes Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. The 34-year-old is still on the Titans “radar,” even after the team signed veteran wideout Andre Johnson. If things don’t work out with the former Texans star, Florio notes that the Titans could make a harder push for White.
Florio also adds the Buccaneers to the list of potential landing spots for White. The writer cites the receiver’s relationship with head coach Dirk Koetter, who was previously the Falcons offensive coordinator.
With reports surrounding Michael Bennett‘s apparent dissatisfaction with his contract, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the defensive end “is in town” for the first day of Seahawks training camp. Earlier this week, it was reported that the two sides would meet to discuss the 30-year-old’s contract.
Following news that former coach Tom Coughlin would be joining the NFL’s football operations department, Florio has details on the role. Coughlin will serve as a “senior advisor,” working alongside executive V.P. of football operations Troy Vincent and participating in “all game-related committees.” The 69-year-old will also provide “strategic guidance” on the draft and the Pro Bowl.

Seahawks, Michael Bennett’s Agent To Meet

July 25th, 2016 at 12:37pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks are set to meet with Michael Bennett‘s agent early this week to discuss the defensive lineman’s desire for a new contract, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. Bennett, she hears (Twitter link), is seeking at least an extension that would put him in the range of the top six or seven defensive linemen in the NFL in terms of new money.

Bennett is entering the third season of a four-year, $28.5MM deal he inked with Seattle in March of 2014. The veteran has been pushing for a new deal ever since the spring of 2015 and one can’t help but wonder why Bennett agreed to such a team-friendly deal in the first place only to complain about it one year later. It’s not clear whether the Seahawks are willing to give him the new contract that he is seeking, but they are at least willing to hear him out.

Recently, CBSSports.com’s Joel Corry suggested a compromise in which the Seahawks could convert Bennett’s $1MM 46-man active roster bonus into base salary. However, Bennett’s team is looking for much more and I can’t picture that modest concession satisfying the Texas A&M product.

When it comes to yearly salary for 4-3 defensive ends, Bennett ranks 10th in the NFL behind Fletcher Cox, Olivier Vernon, Robert Quinn, Jason Pierre-Paul, Vinny Curry, Jared Odrick, Everson Griffen, Mario Williams, and Carlos Dunlap. Bennett’s $7.125MM AAV is also eclipsed by 3-4 DEs Muhammad Wilkerson, J.J. Watt, Malik Jackson, Cameron Jordan, Calais Campbell, Cameron Heyward, Corey Liuget, Mike Daniels, Derek Wolfe, and Jurrell Casey. When looking at all defensive linemen, Bennett is 27th in terms of average annual salary.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC West Notes: Bennett, Seahawks, 49ers

July 22nd, 2016 at 12:40pm CST by Zachary Links

Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett is still upset with his contract and Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) offered up a potential solution to the issue. He writes that Seattle could convert his $1MM 46-man active roster bonus ($62,500 per game) into base salary, which would give him some extra financial security. That gesture might not satisfy Bennett, who finds himself ranked 10th in average annual salary amongst 4-3 defensive ends and 27th in the NFL amongst all defensive linemen. Bennett is entering the year three of a four-year, $28.5MM deal.

When asked if Anthony Davis plans on filing for reinstatement, allowing him to report to 49ers camp on time, the offensive lineman’s camp declined comment, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com tweets. Meanwhile, based on what Davis has been posting on social media, it seems like he is training for a comeback, Maiocco writes.
In this week’s mailbag, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com compared the expectations of the team under new 49ers head coach Chip Kelly versus where the bar was set in Jim Harbaugh‘s first season.
Sad news this morning as we learned that former Cardinals head coach Dennis Green has passed away at the age of 67.
An early June report indicated that the Rams were working on extensions for both general manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher, but it sounds like little progress has been made on either front. Fisher is reportedly among the highest-paid coaches in the league, as he’s reportedly earning around $7MM annually.

Michael Bennett Still Unhappy With Contract

July 21st, 2016 at 2:47pm CST by Zachary Links

Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett has been seeking a new contract for some time now and the events of this offseason have only underscored exactly how underpaid he is. In recent months, Olivier Vernon, Fletcher Cox, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Von Miller have all signed monster contracts while Bennett is entering the third season of a four-year, $28.5MM deal.

“I just want to be fairly compensated with the top guys in the league,” the 30-year-old told Jordan Schultz of The Huffington Post. “I’m definitely one of the top five defensive ends.”

According to Over The Cap, Bennett ranks 10th in average annual salary amongst 4-3 defensive ends. In terms of annual salary for all defensive linemen, Bennett is No. 27 in the NFL, according to Schultz. Any way you slice it, the numbers don’t quite add up as Bennett was ranked the fifth-best edge defender in the NFL last season by Pro Football Focus (sub. req’d).

Bennett threatened to hold out last summer, but that didn’t compel Seattle to redo any part of his contract. However, Bennett has switched agents and is now represented by Doug Hendrickson of Relativity Sports. Hendrickson also represented former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch and he was successful in getting that deal reworked.

If Bennett were to hold out from camp this year, he would face fines of $40K per missed day.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.