RENTON — There was one big question as the Seattle Seahawks opened their veteran minicamp Tuesday:
Will Michael Bennett be there?
If anyone was going to hold out from minicamp, it was believed the Pro Bowl defensive end was the likeliest candidate. However, Bennett was present and accounted for — if not actually on the field — when things got started Tuesday at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Bennett will not participate in on-field activities this week because of an ankle injury picked up while working out. But he said didn’t seriously consider holding out.
“No, not really,” Bennett responded when asked if there was any doubt about his attendance. “I just want to be a great teammate, show my support, do everything I need to do so we can get back to Houston, Texas (the site of Super Bowl 51). I’m very motivated to get back to the Super Bowl, obviously, because it’s in my hometown.”
All hands were on deck Tuesday for the first day of the Seahawks’ three-day minicamp. Unlike the previous three weeks’ organized team activities — or OTAs — which are voluntary for the players, minicamp is mandatory, and Seattle had a full turnout.
That included Bennett. Bennett skipped out on all nine of Seattle’s OTAs, and he hasn’t been shy about voicing his displeasure with the four-year, $28.5 million contract he signed with the Seahawks in 2014. Bennett wants his contract renegotiated, but two years remain on the deal and Seattle has a policy of not renegotiating contracts until there’s only one year remaining. Therefore, holding out is one possible way to try and sway the Seahawks’ stance.
Since signing his deal with the Seahawks, Bennett has watched the market for pass rushers skyrocket. Most recently, Philadelphia’s Fletcher Cox signed an extension that’s reportedly for six years and $103 million. Bennett believes he belongs in that range.
“Of course I am,” Bennett responded when asked if he’s a $100-million player. “If you look at the stats on those guys, what they’ve done in the last couple years, I’m at the top of the list in every statistical category if you look at quarterback hits, hurries, games played, positions played. It speaks for itself.”
So should the Seahawks therefore reward Bennett with a similar contract?
“That’s up to the organization what they do,” Bennett said. “I just want to be a great teammate and a great player.”
The Seahawks are no doubt glad Bennett chose not to hold out from minicamp.
“He contributes to the whole team mentality by the way he brings it and the way he competes,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “We’re going to ask everything of him, we’re going to ask him to do everything. When he’s back and well and healthy, we’re going to expect him to do everything just like he always has. That’s not too much to ask of him. He loves the game, he loves battling, he loves his team, and he gives it up and proves that every time we play. He’s been a wonderful player for us.”
Bennett said last season he considered holding out right up to the first day of training camp, but ultimately decided against it. He then went on to have the best season of his seven-year NFL career, registering 10 sacks and being named to his first Pro Bowl.
Bennett wasn’t the only defensive star unhappy about his contract last summer. Strong safety Kam Chancellor also wanted his contract renegotiated, and he chose to hold out all of training camp, preseason and the first two games of the regular season, eventually returning without receiving any financial concessions from the team.
Carroll said he was impressed with the way Bennett went about his business, despite being dissatisfied with his contract.
“He did show me a lot,” Carroll said. “I’ve told him quite frankly how impressed I was at how he handled himself and how he was a leader, an obvious leader in a very positive way, just like we would have hoped. There was the time Kam wasn’t here and we didn’t have him and it was hard for Kam to get going again when he first got back. Michael never backed off. He was really pushing to create the influence that he could in a very positive way. I have a lot of respect for Mike.”
Despite his ankle injury, Bennett said he should be ready for the start of training camp.
“I should be ready,” Bennett said. “I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in, I train harder than any guy out there. You put them up next to me and I don’t think they could keep up with my training. Plus I have three daughters, so I always work as hard as I can for them.”
Extra points
Other than Bennett, the other player who was not seen at OTAs was defensive end Chris Clemons. However, Clemons was present Tuesday, with Carroll saying Clemons attended a couple OTAs on days when the media wasn’t allowed. … Tackle J’Marcus Webb (calf) and running back C.J. Prosise (hip flexor), who sat out most of OTAs because of injury, took part in position drills Tuesday, but not in scrimmaging. … Tackle Garry Gilliam, who underwent surgery to have a cyst removed from his knee, remained out. However, Carroll said Gilliam was on the brink of returning, and that if this were the regular season Gilliam would be preparing to play in the next game. … Tight end Jimmy Graham (knee), running back Thomas Rawls (ankle) and receiver Kenny Lawler (knee) remain sidelined.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/seattlesidelines, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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