Fansided

NFL Rumors: Seahawks’ Michael Bennett still wants to be traded

By Russell Johnson

Jan 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett (72) celebrates riding a bicycle on field following their victory over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Packers 28-22 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett (72) celebrates riding a bicycle on field following their victory over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Packers 28-22 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Seattle Seahawks DE Michael Bennett still wants to be traded

There was a lot of talk about Seattle Seahawks‘ star defensive end Michael Bennett wanting to be traded a few weeks ago. The rumor mills spun and there was intense speculation that the Seahawks would deal Bennett to the Atlanta Falcons for some return in players or picks. These rumors were finally killed when Michael Bennett himself told ESPN that he never asked the Seahawks for a trade.

Bennett just signed a multi-year deal with the Seahawks in 2014. Bennett’s contract was seen as being somewhat team friendly when he signed it at $28.5 million over 4 years with $16 million guaranteed. At the time of the contract being signed it carried a lower total value, but a high percentage of guaranteed money compared to other high performing defensive ends. Given that he’s playing for a team that has already won him a ring and taken him to another Super Bowl, it’s hard to surmise that he’s dissatisfied with the team’s performance.

Alternatively, since Bennett denied it initially it could be that like in the case of Adrian Peterson, his agent is seeking a bigger cut and looking for a trade which would likely bring a new contract. The whole story appears very strange, but given that Jason La Canfora has made the most recent report, it’s hard to dismiss it entirely. In his most recent report, La Canfora said this of Bennett:

"“He’s kinda sorta tried to say that he didn’t really want to be dealt after all, but that’s not flying anywhere. He and his agent have made it clear he’d rather not be back in Seattle and while the Seahawks aren’t ones to back down, perhaps something emerges that makes sense for all parties prior to the start of the regular season. Kind of odd not to be so happy in a franchise that competes for a Lombardi Trophy, and until or unless the Seahawks put out explicit word that Bennett has permission to speak to other teams, I don’t see any clubs nibbling in this era of hyper-sensitivity over tampering regulations. But there’s a lot of time between now and September for something to perhaps change.”"

La Canfora knew that the Seahawks were going to draft Frank Clark before anyone else seemed to. He broke the details of Marshawn Lynch’s contract before anyone else. He seems to have a good sense of what is going on in the Seahawks camp.

Whether or not Bennett is unhappy and whether or not the Seahawks would even be willing to deal him to anyone are two questions that we don’t even know if we should be asking, but if the answer to both is yes then we may still be in store for a big trade before the season starts.

More from NFL

Home/NFL