Another One For Mike Bennett’s Wallet
November 4th, 2012
Pass rushers get paid handsomely in the NFL.
Pass rushers who play the run well get paid even better.
And 27-year-old pass rushers who enter free agency with double-digit sacks in a contract year hit the jackpot.
Michael Bennett, with a sack today and six sacks at the halfway point of the season, continues to look like the total package. Joe’s not a big fan of the various stats-tracking geeks on the Internet, such as Pro Football Focus, but these guys also repeatedly say Bennett tracks as a stud.
Sure, Bennett is prone to getting dinged up and there’s half a season to go. But with the interior of the Bucs defensive line playing well and very little slowing Bennett down, it seems he’s on the way to a massive payday. Bennett turns 27 next week.
A waiver wire theft by rockstar general manager Mark Dominik three years ago, it’ll be interesting to see if the Bucs make a move on extending Bennett’s contract in the coming weeks. Joe can’t think of a reason Tampa Bay would want to risk exposing Bennett in free agency, especially with Adrian Clayborn on the shelf with a serious knee injury.
Joe firmly believes the risk of signing Bennett now is well worth it.
November 4th, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Pay the man. dont let him get away.
November 4th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
With every sack his worth increase a few more millions. To resign him the bucs will have to dish out 50-60 Million plus signing bonus.
November 4th, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Offering a contract and getting it signed are two different things. Hopefully Bennett appreciates what he’s got here in Tampa and the direction the team is heading and wants to be a part of it going forward.
November 4th, 2012 at 11:02 pm
I’m a little excited to see the Bucs DL healthy. D Bowers got sack today and is looking impressive so I can’t wait to see w DEs next year. We are looking like DT somewhere in next year draft for depth. resign Miller while they are at it.
November 4th, 2012 at 11:04 pm
I don’t see it happening. Not because he isn’t worth resigning, but because I think Dominick will not want t pay starting money to a backup…and that’s what Bennett is wth the bucs. If Clayborn were active, with Bowers, Bennett would not have his six sacks.
And Bennett knows this as well. He can get at least 30 million this off season by changing teams.
November 4th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Dominik is great with contracts. I’m thinking of 4 year front loaded contract with a 5 year option
November 4th, 2012 at 11:23 pm
somebody’s gonna pay him good if he keeps it up. Not 2 mention tha franchise tag
November 4th, 2012 at 11:29 pm
Another thing to consider is budget. This year the Bucs spent big…as a result they’ll have much less to spend…and they have some higher priority spots to address. As I said…with Bowers and Clayborn healthy…Bennett does not start. Although…I think he is more proven than Bowers.
November 4th, 2012 at 11:30 pm
Who got credit for the sack when Palmer sacked himself?
November 5th, 2012 at 2:46 am
@Pete,
There is nothing of higher priority than pass rushers. Pass rushers are probably the hardest spot to find on a defense, and they are always at a premium. This is why they are generally the highest paid guys on the defense. So no, there is no higher priority than signing Bennett. As for him being a backup, not so fast my friend. Unless Bowers lights it up the rest of the season, no way does he take Bennett’s starting job. Fact of the matter is that you can never have too many pass rushers (see Giants, New York), and I’m pretty sure Dominik knows this, which is why he has drafted them so high. If we don’t sign Bennett, that’s going to be a huge mistake, because he is only starting to show what he can do. He’s not even close to his prime yet. Pay the man!!!
November 5th, 2012 at 2:48 am
@Miguel,
Bowers got the sack. Probably should have been split with him and McCoy, but I guess since neither touched him, they gave it to the closest guy. I wish he wouldn’t have fell, because he was about to get laid out.
November 5th, 2012 at 5:49 am
Pay the man his money….. “Rounders”
November 5th, 2012 at 8:09 am
@BucfanBF
I hope Dominik doesn’t eat Oreos while negotiating…
November 5th, 2012 at 9:54 am
It needs to be said and im going to say it. He is the best DE we have on this team. It’s time this team realizes it.
November 5th, 2012 at 10:53 am
Cap relief from the Talib trade plus what we get from letting Q.Black walk shud give us some room to resign Bennett I hope