Salk: Seahawks might actually rally around Michael Bennett, Justin Britt
Aug 23, 2017, 10:00 AM
(AP)
With one sitting during the national anthem and the other standing by him in support, I believe Michael Bennett and Justin Britt have an opportunity to galvanize the Seahawks and change so much of the conversation around the team that has centered around locker-room turmoil since late last season.
O’Neil and Salk on Bennett: Pay attention to his message
Rather than talking about the Seahawks punching each other, or fighting in practice, or whether their QB can lead, we are all talking about two teammates from different backgrounds listening to each other and trying to set an example. You may not like the message or the method, but this has a chance to be a true benefit to the team. And for everyone that doesn’t like political talk – or pretends not to – that is the big takeaway.
We don’t know for sure yet how this will affect the season, if it does at all. But if I was a betting man, I’d throw down some cash on this being more of a positive than whatever Tacoma News Tribune columnist John McGrath suggested last week when he deemed Bennett’s decision to sit during the anthem out of place.
If you need an example of this, let’s look no farther than right across the bridge from the Seahawks facility. Washington head coach Chris Peterson told us that these societal conversations are of the utmost importance to his team’s bonding experience. Bennett, Britt and Jeremy Lane (who also stood next to Bennett in support during the Seahawks’ last preseason game) aren’t much older than the Huskies’ Jake Browning, Vita Vea or Myles Gaskin.
It’s hard to argue that what’s good for the goose is bad for the gander, especially when the gander seems to be finding ways to show support.