Michael Bennett Talks Tampa Return, Film Study and Diet
January 27th, 2018
After nine sacks for Tampa Bay in 2012, and finishing fifth in the NFL that season in tackles for loss with 18, 27-year-old Michael Bennett was allowed to walk out of One Buc Palace for no good reason.
The rest is impressive history — Seahawks history.
Bennett has missed just five games through the last five seasons and has earned many accolades along the way, including a Super Bowl ring.
Dude is a stud, one of the most dangerous and versatile defensive ends in the NFL, even if he is prone to wacky and controversial behavior.
Bennett said after this season that he was unsure Seattle would keep him and his contract.
Enter Gerald McCoy, who has been campaigning loudly for his friend and former teammate since Bennett expressed skepticism about his Seattle future.
McCoy jacked that up to Joe this week, and Bennett piled on with Rock Riley, afternoon host on 1040 AM (Tampa) and 1080 AM (Orlando). Rock was at Pro Bowl practice Friday at Disney World, just west of Orlando.
“If anything ever happened with Seattle, I mean Tampa would be like an ideal to go back and get a chance to win a championship with those guys,” Bennett said. “But right now I’m a Seahawk, so. But it’s always cool to have your old teammates want you to back on the team because it means you made a really good impression on them and you’re really good friends.”
Rock asked Bennett how he’s been able to stay so productive and at the top of his game.
“I think it’s just the nutrition and the diet and just keep staying in shape,” Bennett said. “I think just take care of your body and being a student of the game. I think I watch so much film I’m able to dissect plays before it happens.”
Yes, Joe knows there are plenty of fans who don’t like Bennett’s political commentary and his some of his past behavior with law enforcement, and his pet-care ethics. But Joe can’t find a mug shot of Bennett online, nor can Joe find him being accused of mistreating a woman. However, Joe can find the gaping holes the Bucs have along the defensive line.
January 27th, 2018 at 4:49 pm
Y’all (anti-micheal Bennett fans) don’t like him cuz he’s pro Black Lives Matter?? Wow! Smh y’all would rather lose than give black men a voice so crazy. Get this guy back on the Bucs. All you racist go root for another team please we don’t want you
January 27th, 2018 at 4:53 pm
I would love to have Bennett back. Don’t get caught up in over draumatised off field stuff. It’s weak. I don’t see Bucs fans in love with McCoy for some reason… if you want Perfect players then stick to video games. This is real life and they will tell you. I want players that want to win and have the skill to get it done. I’m tired of watching this team struggle.
January 27th, 2018 at 4:53 pm
I hope he comes back . Never wanted him to leave. I’m also thoroughly convinced we should trade whatever it takes to get Chubb. Tack on the return of Spence and our pass rush would be fixed. Bennet, Spence and Chubb. Yikes.
January 27th, 2018 at 5:13 pm
I don’t know why Joe waste time with this!!!!! There is only one person with a problem about michael bennett’s contract, and that is michael bennett!!!!!!!! every year he complains about it!!!!!! Why would Seattle have an issue with his contract when they are paying only a couple of dollars more than 7 million for 2018????? and 2019 is only 8.7 million!!!!! Seattle is going to sit on that contract unless a team comes with draft ammo for a trade, and at that point it would be easier finding a young talent in the draft!!!!!!!!!
I also love how it was “unexplained” how he was allowed to walk away!!!!!! its the same reason that the bucs had to do a full rebuild from just 4 season ago!!!!!!! Only 2 draft picks and 1 undrafted free-agent remain!!!!!
The straw house that talk show dominik built has been exposed!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 27th, 2018 at 5:18 pm
IF you do not like my opinion your not allowed to be a fan of the bucs and your a racist. lol give it a rest everyone has there own opinion.
January 27th, 2018 at 5:20 pm
Don’t like Bennett because he was very vocal when Schiano would make the team tackle the opponents during the victory kneeldown at the end of the game and would whine about player safety and respect ect.
Bennett has gone on to be a hypocrite in both Super bowl 49 and the 2017 season vs the Jaguars when he tries to deliberately injure opposing players during their victory kneels at the end of the game. What does that say about his character? I’m not asking for a team of just choirboys but don’t make it seem like he gets a bad rap just because of BLM. He is also one of the most penalized players in the league.
January 27th, 2018 at 5:27 pm
Bunch of cry babies only wanting choir boys. We NEED some ATTITUDE on this team. Would love to get Bennett and Talib back.
January 27th, 2018 at 5:28 pm
If released, Bucs should jump to sign Bennett. They should also attempt to sign Kony Ealy. After that draft Chubb @ #7 if there. If not, trade down & draft Key or Davenport. Now u have experience, youth & depth at DE (Bennett, Ealy, Spence, Key(LSU defensive players have thrived here recently), Gholston & Russell or Hayes. Draft a DT (3-tech) to go with McCoy, McDonald, & Stevie T. Upgrade the secondary in free agency(Butler, Grimes, Reid), draft a RB (Penny or Jones) & OL. The rest of draft should be defense. After that it’s up to the coaches to put the talent in best position to help the team win. Can’t ask for anything except the chance to improve. 2018 is do or die!!!
January 27th, 2018 at 5:29 pm
Why not go after the entire squad? Bennett, talib, mason foster, Donald Penn, Matt Bryant.
Funny that’s almost all.of the teams biggest needs let go by the same team that has never had cap issues
January 27th, 2018 at 5:35 pm
Stay out west with the rest of the pro-cop killers and leftist garbage, the last thing the Bucs need is some moron social justice warrior making everything about himself.
January 27th, 2018 at 5:35 pm
It seems Tampa is a magnet for top of the hill players looking to go out with a big fat contract….this team needs to hit on young FA players and let them grow with the team and hopefully work into starting jobs….not these big name high mileage rentals….
January 27th, 2018 at 5:47 pm
Bennett is old.
And worse, hes stupid
Team has enough plenty of those.
Hey! How about A talented, smart, young guy?
Leave Bennett and his Las Vegas fairy tales in Seattle
January 27th, 2018 at 6:00 pm
Wow! Dumb and dumber Buc personnel Decisions. You could field a pretty good team with former Bucs’ players they let go or didn’t draft because of brain dead decision makers!
January 27th, 2018 at 6:06 pm
Dirk “We were done by Halloween” Koetter and “Cashing Checks” Smith aren’t able to coach anyone on defense up so they have to keep making the same mistakes each year signing proven players looking to coast into retirement. Why does it take years for people to figure this out?
January 27th, 2018 at 6:16 pm
NO NO NO NO NO NO to Bennett!!!! We need to rebuild the defense and a defense for the long haul is not build with 30 + year old aging players looking for one last big contract. Go after David Irving from the Cowboys instead, 24 years old 6’7″ 290 pounds. Give up a draft pick and get a player on the rise instead of a declining, flag kneeling, cop bashing player on the downside of his career. Smarten up Buc’s fans we can’t go back to the past and Bennett is part of the past.
January 27th, 2018 at 6:18 pm
First post of this thread = most racist person here
January 27th, 2018 at 6:28 pm
I don’t care about the politics when it comes to football … the reason I do NOT want Bennett or Talib, at least not when compared to other free agents, has everything to do with their AGE … if you can get them both on 1-year deals, great, do it … but to give either guy guaranteed multiple years seems like a mistake to me … especially with much younger free agents out there.
January 27th, 2018 at 6:30 pm
Once again, Seattle will hold on to his very little over 7 million dollar contract this year!!!!!
He will turn 33 during the 2018 season!!!!!!!
His number are declining and only had One 10 sack season that only got to 10 sacks!!!!!!
Dude is trash, who lies against hard working people risking their lives to save his worthless life!!!!!! Complains about his contract every year!!!!!!!!
Draft and find something better than that trash!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!
January 27th, 2018 at 6:32 pm
Well, as the Seahawks who are a defense first team and are letting him go? Why? Could it be declining play, injuries and age? Yah.
Oh, and as I have typed many times before… MacDill Air Force Base.
Players stand in Tampa whether you like to hear it or not.
January 27th, 2018 at 6:42 pm
Bring Mr. Bennett back? Yes, but at what cost? 4 or less seasons 1-2 guaranteed 6-8 million? Being ready to bring in another DE in draft & UDFA, FA. We need DE help and he has the ability but we need more than one horse on the DE rotation.
January 27th, 2018 at 6:49 pm
If he can give the Bucs 3 sacks off the edge. He will be giving more than the other bums off the edge.
January 27th, 2018 at 7:00 pm
Nah. Just another cash in and ride out a lazy year with the bucs FA.
January 27th, 2018 at 7:02 pm
Bucs defense has been soft, demoralized and bland for many years. Signing Bennett would be a step in the right direction to energize the defense and start creating a nasty mentality. Bucs need intimidators and playmakers instead of excuse makers.
January 27th, 2018 at 8:22 pm
@ BigpoppaBuc,
I like your thinking
January 27th, 2018 at 9:11 pm
Take him on the decline? How stupid.
January 27th, 2018 at 9:19 pm
Hey for you guys not wanting Bennett how about you line up Gholston at end for 3rd and 8s all year……..Or you can use Ayers if you prefer.
Me, I’ll use Bennett all year for third and long.
You can whine about off field stuff all you want but if you honestly would rather have those scrubs on third and long instead of Bennett then you will lose.
So you can have your losses. I’ll take the guy that you hate that will help the team win…..I do care about off field stuff but I will not sacrifices winning for it.
January 27th, 2018 at 10:10 pm
^ I’d prefer Ziggy … but if we get Bennett on a deal that only has the first year guaranteed, I’d be cool with that … I just don’t want to see him “locked in” as his decline could happen FAST, ala Robert Ayers!
January 27th, 2018 at 10:26 pm
@bryan Russ
Yes us bucs fans are all big racists. We don’t won’t michael Bennett because he has a voice. I guess we just wear are winston,kwon,David,grimes,McCoy,Martin, Evansand so on jerseys just because. 4 of our 22 starters are white. So we definitely don’t want to sign Bennett because of his color. It’ doesn’t matter the skin color he lied and tried to race bait to be relevant in this whole black lives matter movement. There are more people who were pissed at the idea of signing incognito a couple years ago. Why is that because we dislike bad people regardless of skin color. but we won’t talk about that because it doesn’t fit your agenda. How can you think and nfl fan can be a full blown racist when 80% of the league is African American. In your world we only half celebrate when brate catches a touchdown. And we say man that was a horrible throw good thing brate made a 360 behind the back one fingered catch while being pass interfered. Grow up and quit watching cnn. And more about the topic I would love to sign Bennett if he produces on the field and stays out of the news for wrong reasons off of it. Go bucs and go Bennett if he is brought back.
January 27th, 2018 at 11:02 pm
I defientaly agree with that concept NFL Nut. I would defientaly prefer Ziggy too but Bennett is saying he wants to come here and Ziggy may not even hit free agency and if he does no way of knowing that he will consider Tampa. In fairness no way of telling if Bennett gets released either.
Heck in a perfect world I wouldn’t mind signing both. We darn sure got the roster space.
January 27th, 2018 at 11:15 pm
Not only was the first post the most racist, also the most ignorant.
January 27th, 2018 at 11:36 pm
Why don’t you guys put the politics down for a second and do a little study up on great defensive lineman that have played in this league.
If you don’t think lineman that have a few issues can be major difference makers on the field you are sadly mistaken. And if you think these issues will instantly mean they will cause a problem in the locker room then again you ar3 wrong.
Or you can just ignore history and continue on babbling about racism while this line will lose us more games if we don’t get playmakers at End.
January 28th, 2018 at 12:20 am
Jimmy Jack,
If we got BOTH Ziggy and Bennett I’d be ready to do jumping jacks!
January 28th, 2018 at 4:13 am
Yeah he wants to come here.
Who dont,you get to lay down on the job,and draw a good paycheck with no state income tax.
Yup,thats the dream job to wrap up your career.
January 28th, 2018 at 4:39 am
Bennett will be 33. No thanks. We also do not need distractions. Bennett is one. Why do you think Seattle will cut him? He is a huge distraction. Stand during the anthem, and after the game go spend your check in these projects. Oh and go for a ride along with a officer in these projects. He’s old, he is a distraction, just look at Seattle this year, he had that team the highest percentage of kneelers and they missed the playoffs. Wanna go get someone? Quinn from the Rams.
January 28th, 2018 at 7:23 am
Why is it Joe has no problem criticizing Lovie and Raheem; even to the point they blame Lovie for personnel moves while Licht was GM. But can’t seem to call out Greg Schiano? Everyone knows that he is the reason Bennett isn’t here. Just say it!!! It is no mystery!!!!
January 28th, 2018 at 7:25 am
Sure about that?
January 28th, 2018 at 8:06 am
Picking up those two would be like trying to patch the hole in your roof with condoms. They both had their chance to shine here and at least one or both pissed it away. That goes for most players let go! Don’t you think a good portion of Bennetts success had to do with Seattles pro bowl secondary? The chain puller is a complete idiot who would be in jail before he cashed his first check. I can see them both on the beach counting their money laughing all the way to the bank.
January 28th, 2018 at 8:09 am
@veejay24
It seems to be a mystery to you!!!!! What really happened is that at the end of the year, Michael bennett should was banged up!!! Talk show dominik then “used” the medical staff as to why they offered no contract!!!!! When Bennett sign elsewhere, that cleared the roster for the two DE that talk show dominik drafted!!!!!!! The drafted DE did not perform which lead to all the stunts to manufacture a pass rush!!!!!!!!!!!
Just remember that Coach Schiano was the only coach for the Bucs that started Bennett for 16 games!!!!!!!!! So talk show dominik had a out and used the shoulder and blamed the medical staff as to why he was let to walk away!!!! Talk show host dominik then guaranteed to Coach Schiano that Bowers was a 10 sack talent!!!! And that is why they were both saying that preseason that they expect 10 sacks out of bowers!!!!!!!!
no coach could have succeeded under talk show dominik!!!!!!!!! And that is why there is only 2 draft picks and 1 undrafted free-agent left after 4 seasons!!!!!!!! ITS A TOTAL REBUILD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep building!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 28th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
“…it would be easier finding a young talent in the draft”. – Your kidding right?
January 28th, 2018 at 6:29 pm
It’s a shame we have to consider guys like this because of poor drafting…
January 28th, 2018 at 10:42 pm
Hey Joe, I’m sure …….I’m Damn Sure! TAKE A KNEE …KEEP ANERICA FREE… let’s not MAKE AMERICA WHITE AGAIN … Let’s make sure that we don’t repeat our past bad deeds!!