Michael Bennett (defensive lineman, born 1985)

Michael Bennett

refer to caption

Bennett with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014
No. 72 Seattle Seahawks
Position: Defensive end
Personal information
Date of birth: (1985-11-13) November 13, 1985
Place of birth: Avondale, Louisiana
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight: 274 lb (124 kg)
Career information
High school: Houston (TX) Alief Taylor
College: Texas A&M
Undrafted: 2009
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 7, 2016
Tackles: 243
Quarterback sacks: 43.5
Forced fumbles: 8
Pass deflections: 3
Player stats at NFL.com

Michael Bennett Jr. (born November 13, 1985) is an American football defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas A&M, and signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2009. Bennett has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is the brother of New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett.

Early years

Bennett attended Alief Taylor High School in Houston, Texas, where he played football, baseball, and competed in track. In football, he earned first-team All-District honors as a defensive lineman in his senior year, after compiling 110 tackles and four sacks. He also earned honorable mention All-District honors as a junior. In track & field, Bennett was an standout discus thrower, with a top-throw of 45.72 meters (147 ft).[1] In addition, he also ran a 4.79-second 40-yard dash and jumped 36.5 inches in the vertical jump.[2]

College career

In 2005, as a freshman at Texas A&M, he made 27 tackles, including 3.5 quarterback sacks, while seeing action in all 11 games (4 starts). In 2006 he was the team's top tackler among defenders that did not start a game—he posted 27 tackles, including two sacks and 6 tackles for loss, while seeing action in every game. He also forced a pair of fumbles and batted down a pass. In 2007, he was selected to the honorable mention All-Big 12 team at defensive end after registered 43 tackles including six tackles for a loss of yardage. In 2008, Bennett played in 11 games and made 42 tackles with 12.5 for losses and 2.5 sacks. He also played alongside his brother, Martellus Bennett, from 2006-2008 at Texas A&M

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Ht Wt 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BPWonderlic
6 ft 4 in 266 lb 5.00 s 1.62 s 2.84 s 31 in 9 ft 2 in 24 repsX

Seattle Seahawks (First Stint)

Bennett was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks on April 27, 2009.[3] An NFL Draft analyst noted that Bennett was not drafted probably due to his inconsistent performance in college. The team initially believed he could serve at left defensive end. After working with coaches during training camp, he was moved to the inside as a pass-rushing tackle.[4][5][6] During the preseason, he compiled nine tackles, two sacks, five QB hurries, a tipped pass and a fumble recovery.[7] He made the final roster by the end of the preseason.[8][9]

Bennett was waived by the Seahawks on October 10, 2009 in order to make room for offensive tackle Kyle Williams, who was signed off of the practice squad.[10]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bennett in 2012 with Tampa Bay

Bennett was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 12, 2009. Tampa Bay switched him back to defensive tackle, and he became a key part of the defense filling in for the injured Gerald McCoy.

Bennett's best season as a Buccaneer came in 2012 when he recorded career-highs in tackles (41), sacks (9) and forced fumbles (3).

Second stint with Seahawks

Bennett was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks on March 14, 2013.[11] He signed a 1-year contract reportedly worth $4.8 million, with $1.5 million guaranteed.[12] On March 24, 2013, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Bennett had a torn rotator cuff.[13] On December 2, 2013, Bennett scored his first NFL touchdown against the New Orleans Saints after recovering a fumble from the Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Bennett was in fact a key contributor to the 2013 Seahawks defensive unit that ranked first in the NFL and went on to win Super Bowl XLVIII.

On March 10, 2014, the day before free agency began for the 2014 season, the Seahawks re-signed Bennett to a four-year, $28.5 million contract with $16 million guaranteed.[14] Rumors had previously stated that Michael could be joining his brother Martellus in Chicago.[15]

After the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game on January 18, 2015, Bennett commandeered a Seattle police officer's bicycle and took a victory lap around Century Link Field.[16]

In Super Bowl XLIX, with 18 seconds left in the end of the game, Bennett and teammate Bruce Irvin became the first two players to be ejected from the Super Bowl for deliberate unsportsmanlike conduct. The ejections occurred immediately after Bennett committed a neutral zone infraction. The Seahawks lost to the Patriots 28–24.

On October 22 of the 2015 season, in a game against the San Francisco 49ers, Michael Bennett recorded 3.5 sacks of Colin Kaepernick. The Seahawks won the game 20-3, and Bennett was named defensive player of the week for his performance.[17]

Eight games into the 2015 season, Bennett was ranked as the ninth-best edge defender in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. Through those eight games he had 31 total tackles (21 solo), 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 8 tackles for loss.[18]

Defensive Stats

Year Team Games Combine Tackles Tackles Assisted Tackles Sacks Forced Fumbles Fumble Recoveries Fumble Return Yards Interceptions Interception Return Yards Average Interception Return Longest Interception Return Interceptions Returned for Touchdown Pass Defended Stuffs Stuff Yards Kicks Blocked
2009 TB 7 3 2 1 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2010 TB 13 15 13 2 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 5 0
2011 TB 14 39 35 4 4.0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 27 0
2012 TB 16 41 34 7 9.0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 10 25 0
2013 SEA 16 31 18 13 8.5 1 1 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 8 0
2014 SEA 16 38 26 12 7.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 28 0
2015 SEA 16 52 33 19 10.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total Total 98 167 128 39 40.5 8 3 22 0 0 0 0 0 3 37 93 0

[19]

Awards and Highlights

Personal

Bennett is the older brother of New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett, who was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.[20]

Bennett's sack dance, in which he places his hands on his head and swivels his hips, is modeled after professional wrestler Ravishing Rick Rude.[21]

Bennett endorsed Bernie Sanders for President of the United States.[22]

References

  1. ↑ https://www.trackingfootball.com/players/michael-bennett-7500/
  2. ↑ https://tamu.rivals.com/cviewplayer.asp?Player=51047
  3. ↑ Johns, Greg (August 29, 2009). "A Seahawks sleeper: Rookie Bennett making his mark". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  4. ↑ "Seahawks rookie tackles new role".
  5. ↑ O'Neil, Danny (September 2, 2009). "Undrafted Michael Bennett showing size isn't everything on Seahawks' defensive line". The Seattle Times.
  6. ↑ O'Neil, Danny (September 2, 2009). "Michael Bennett's move inside says something about Seattle's ends". The Seattle Times.
  7. ↑ "Monday Morning QB".
  8. ↑ "Seahawks final 53-man roster".
  9. ↑ "Poster players for perseverance".
  10. ↑ "Seahawks add OT Williams, release DL Bennett".
  11. ↑ Farnsworth, Clare (March 15, 2013). "MICHAEL BENNETT SIGNING IS OFFICIAL". Seattle Seahawks. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  12. ↑ Michael Bennet, Seahawks contract details
  13. ↑ Wesseling, Chris (2013-03-24). "Michael Bennett reportedly has torn rotator cuff". National Football League. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  14. ↑ Rosenthal, Gregg (March 10, 2014). "Michael Bennett re-signs with Seattle Seahawks". NFL.com. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  15. ↑ Campbell, Rich (March 10, 2014). "Michael Bennett re-signs with Seahawks". Chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  16. ↑ Quinton, Sean (January 18, 2015). "Michael Bennett takes a victory lap". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  17. ↑ http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seattle-seahawk-michael-bennett-named-nfc-defensive-player-of-the-week/
  18. ↑ http://profootballfocus.com/
  19. ↑ "Michael Bennett Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  20. ↑ Gantt, Darin (March 8, 2014). "Bears appear to be looking for Bennett family reunion". NBCSports.com. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  21. ↑ http://mynorthwest.com/292/2424696/Bennetts-Rude-celebration-has-pro-wrestling-roots
  22. ↑ http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seattle-seahawks-defensive-tackle-michael-bennett-on-why-hes-voting-for-bernie-sanders/
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