Seahawks keep Michael Bennett with four-year deal
Mar 10, 2014, 12:52 PM | Updated: 5:54 pm
By Brady Henderson
Michael Bennett is staying put.
The defensive lineman signed a four-year deal with the Seahawks Monday, a day before the start of free agency.
Seahawks sign @mosesbread72 to multi-year extension. pic.twitter.com/DHv0yvfnBK
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) March 10, 2014
According to John Clayton, Bennett’s deal includes $16 million. Reports on the overall value of the contract vary, with some stating it’s $28.5 million for an average value of $7.125 million. Bennett said he had other offers that were greater in terms of overall value but that he got “just as much guaranteed as any other contract out there right now.”
Bennett was the Seahawks’ most productive pass rusher while playing last season on a one-year deal. General manager John Schneider had called re-signing Bennett the team’s top priority, and it appears the team has accomplished that goal.
Bennett credited both the team and the fans for playing a big part in his decision.
“I couldn’t think of any other place to be that could ever have the impact that the fans have on this game and how they treat the players,” he told 710 ESPN Seattle’s “Bob and Groz” following the signing.
“You look at the defense I’m on and I’m like, ‘Why would I ever want to leave a defense like this where everybody is a great player and we all make great plays and we all depend on each other?’ It’s a great defense. I don’t think there’s any better situation no matter how much money is involved.”
The Bears were reportedly interested in signing Bennett, which would have reunited him with his brother Martellus, Chicago’s starting tight end. Bennett admits his brother pushed hard for him to sign with Chicago, and at times he felt like he was choosing the team over his family.
“At the end of the day it’s not about that,” he said. “It’s definitely about the situation we’ve got going now, and I feel good about coming back. So that’s one of the main reasons I’ve got for coming back. It was close but it wasn’t close enough because I’m back so all of that doesn’t really matter.”
