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Michael Bennett not asking for a trade, just more money

By Nathaniel Reeves

Jan 29, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett at press conference at Arizona Grand in advance of Super Bowl XLIX. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett at press conference at Arizona Grand in advance of Super Bowl XLIX. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Seattle Seahawks’ star defensive lineman Michael Bennett rightfully doesn’t feel like he’s being paid his worth.

The trade rumor saga between the Seattle Seahawks and defensive lineman Michael Bennett took yet another turn on Friday. Bennett denied that he asked flat-out asked the team for a trade, but confirmed that he did request a pay raise in an interview with Seattle’s KING 5 TV, via Terry Blount of ESPN.

"“I think everyone who has a job, they want a raise for whatever they’re doing .I’m just like any other American. I think everybody wants to be paid a little bit more. So I don’t think I fall short of that…People assume when you ask for a little more money, they assume that you want to be traded or something like that. But that’s not what I’m trying to go for.”"

Seattle was never going to trade someone as valuable as Bennett, so this news doesn’t make a huge difference in that regard. However, Bennett is probably justified in thinking that he’s a little underpaid for his production level.

Bennett has racked up 15.5 sacks over the past two years with the Seahawks and has been the key member of a defensive line that doesn’t really get its due when compared to the other units of Seattle’s defense. His 52 quarterback hurries a year ago were tied for the most in NFL by a 4-3 defensive end and trailed NFL leader J.J. Watt by just two.

He can line up both outside and along the interior, giving Seattle’s defensive line rotation some added flexibility. Without Bennett, the Seahawks wouldn’t have been nearly as successful over the past two years.

It’s not just the production that may warrant a pay raise for Bennett, either. The Seahawks like to use a huge defensive line rotation, so Bennett signed his contract extension last offseason with the idea that he would have a limited snap count. Injuries and lack of depth prevented that in 2014, and Bennett’s work load went up substantially.

So, it’s probably fair for Bennett to think he deserves more than $16 million guaranteed on a 4-year, $28.5 million contract. Unfortunately for Bennett, that’s not how the NFL works.

The Seahawks aren’t going to set a precedent of renegotiating contracts one year after they are signed, no matter how important the player is. Maybe there will be a restructure down the line a la Marshawn Lynch, but Bennett shouldn’t expect a raise heading into next season.

There will probably be plenty more rumors surrounding Bennett before training camp. Still, it would be a surprise to see him anywhere else or with a new contract by Week 1.

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