Tag Archives: Michael Bennett

Bennett: ‘Why would I not be there?’

May 5, 2016 cc Leave a comment

Just like last year, Michael Bennett is staying at home in Hawaii during Seattle’s offseason workout program. But, asked Thursday whether he will be at training camp, he said, “Why would I not be there?”

The question is pertinent because Bennett has been dissatisfied with his contract. He stayed away from OTAs last year, too, but returned in time for the mandatory minicamp in June, was present for all of training camp and then turned in his best NFL season.

All signs have pointed to Bennett not holding out, even though he has far outplayed the four-year, $28.5 million contract he signed in 2014.

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Contracts, State of the team

More evidence that Chancellor, Bennett will not hold out

April 5, 2016 cc Leave a comment

Kam and Bennett Entering the offseason, two of the Seahawks’ biggest personnel questions centered on whether Kam Chancellor and Michael Bennett were going to be problems.

It’s looking more and more like neither will be.

Chancellor apparently has made up with the team, based on words from him and John Schneider. And he added to that with recent comments to The Seattle Times, saying, “The past is the past” and talking about being a leader, a big brother and a captain.

Like Chancellor, Bennett has been griping about his contract for a year. Unlike Chancellor, Bennett showed up on time last year and turned in his best season.

Of course, all that did was build up concern that Bennett might give the Hawks another Kam Kam Kick this year and hold out. But it is looking like Bennett has no plans to do that.

Continue reading More evidence that Chancellor, Bennett will not hold out →

State of the team

Schneider, Carroll answer personnel questions

March 23, 2016 cc 1 Comment

In addition to stating that Kam Chancellor will return to the Seahawks this year, John Schneider on Tuesday confirmed the Seahawks’ offensive line situation is indeed as shaky as we all think it is. He also discussed the plan for replacing Bruce Irvin and waved off any silly concerns that Marshawn Lynch is not really retiring.

With Russell Okung and J.R. Sweezy gone, the Seahawks’ line projects (from left to right) as Garry Gilliam, Justin Britt, Patrick Lewis, Mark Glowinski and J’Marcus Webb. If the Seahawks entered the season with that group, they would be in worse shape than they were with the 2015 line.

At the league meetings in Florida, Schneider confirmed that is where they are right now. And he hinted that the team might not add anyone before the draft.

As the line is constituted, Gilliam would battle career backup Bradley Sowell at left tackle while Webb would step in at right tackle, where Gilliam started in 2015. Schneider admitted they are grasping at straws, calling Sowell and Webb “prove-it signings.”

“That’s kind of the stage we are at right now,” the GM told The Seattle Times.

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Contracts, State of the team, Trades

Have Hawks & Chancellor resolved differences?

March 19, 2016 cc 2 Comments

Chancellor, Carroll and Schneider As it turns out, Kam Chancellor’s out-of-the-blue post the other day about staying in Seattle might not have been so out of the blue.

A report out of Chicago indicates the Bears and Seahawks were discussing a swap of Chancellor and tight end Martellus Bennett (brother of Seattle’s Michael) until Chancellor and the Seahawks reached some kind of agreement.

The report comes from a blogger who doesn’t usually break news, so it must be taken with a grain of salt until confirmed by recognized news sources.

However, it could well explain the timing of Chancellor’s comments Wednesday in which he said, “I’m not going anywhere. Seattle is my second home. I don’t plan on going anywhere unless some higher power places me elsewhere. #Loyalty #12s #LOB”

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Contracts, State of the team

Is Chancellor going to play nice or play elsewhere?

March 17, 2016 cc 1 Comment

Kam Chancellor during the fourth quarter against Denver (Getty) Either Kam Chancellor is planning to play nice with the Seahawks this year or he is starting up a PR campaign.

How else do you explain the post Wednesday in which he said, “I’m not going anywhere. Seattle is my second home. I don’t plan on going anywhere unless some higher power places me elsewhere. #Loyalty #12s #LOB”

That clearly is a response to speculation that he might be traded this offseason — the logical assumption after he held out through the first two games last season and then appeared to play it safe after he came back (how many Bam Bam hits do you remember?).

Chancellor obviously is speaking to fans, perhaps trying to win back some of those who soured on him after his 2015 shenanigans. And he also is trying to absolve himself of any blame if the Seahawks — “some higher power” — do end up trading him.

But let’s get one thing straight: If the Seahawks do end up trading him, as many of us think they will, he will be the one to blame.

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Contracts, Free agency

Big-spending Raiders, Jags make it tougher on Hawks, Bennett

March 9, 2016 cc 2 Comments

A month ago, the NFLPA called out the Raiders and Jaguars for falling behind the CBA’s minimum-spend requirement; so, with a combined $140 million in cap space, it was obvious those teams were going to come out spending this week.

While that is good news for Bruce Irvin, who reportedly will sign a big deal with the Raiders, it might not be a great development for the relationship between Michael Bennett and the Seahawks.

Bennett obviously will take notice of Malik Jackson’s $90 million deal with Jacksonville and feel even more underpaid than he already does. At $15 million a year, Jackson is blowing away the market for defensive ends. And you have to wonder if that will scuttle any chance of Seattle working something out with Bennett.

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CHAWK LINES, Free agency, NFL Combine

March 1, 2016 cc Leave a comment

chawk lines -- Combine

You know that meeting between the Seahawks and Doug Hendrickson? It wasn’t really about Michael Bennett’s contract, per Gregg Bell.

Brandon Mebane, the longest-tenured Seahawk at nine seasons, would love to finish his career in Seattle. Seems like it should get done.

At the Combine, Pete Carroll talked about the process of learning about draft prospects.

Hilarious: Marshawn Lynch was rappin’ while “ghost-ridin'” a camel in Egypt.

Russell Wilson debuted his new clothing line at Nordstrom.
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CHAWK LINES, Free agency, NFL Combine

February 26, 2016 cc Leave a comment

chawk lines -- Combine

Asked about Michael Bennett and Kam Chancellor, Pete Carroll said, “Really, the guys who are under contract can’t be the first-priority guys right now, in any order. We are really digging in, trying to keep our team together. And that will always be the way we go about it. We love Kam and Mike … and we are going to do all we can to make sure they can stay with us.”

Hiring Doug Hendrickson shows Bennett’s Lynch-like strategy.

Carroll said Jimmy Graham might not be ready until the end of training camp. That shadows our thought that the Seahawks will take it slow with him.

John Schneider talked about Marshawn Lynch and other topics.

Lynch is headed to Egypt for American Football Without Barriers — a group co-created by former Seahawk Breno Giacomini.

The offensive line is a major point of emphasis this offseason, although Carroll and Schneider don’t seem to concerned.

Russell Okung says, “It’s very possible that I could stay here. But I know my value, and I’m not going to settle for anything less than that.”

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Contracts

Expect Hawks, Bennett to work it out

February 25, 2016 cc 5 Comments

Bennett and Lynch Barring a break from philosophy, the Seahawks will be able to do only so much for Pro Bowl defender Michael Bennett this offseason.

But it might be enough, if Bennett’s recent business move is any indication.

Neither John Schneider nor Pete Carroll has ruled out adjusting Bennett’s salary, which calls for $4 million plus $1 million in per-game bonuses, but both have cautioned against expecting too much.

Last month, Schneider told 710 ESPN, “It’s all on an individual basis. We’re going to do whatever we can to keep this puzzle together, but we can’t get out of whack either.”

On Thursday at the Combine, Carroll praised Bennett for his energy, leadership and consistency last season and said, “We’d like to reward everybody. Can’t always do that.”

Bennett surely is hoping to be an exception to the rule. Toward that end, he has switched agents.

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